UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


A    N 

ACCOUNT 

OF      THE 

GOSPEL     LABOURS, 

AND 

CHRISTIAN    EXPERIENCES 

O  F     A 

FAITHFUL    MINISTER 
OF     CHRIST, 

JOHN  /CHURCHMAN, 

Late  of  Nottingham,  in  Pennfylvania,  deceafed. 


TO     WHICH      IS     ADDED. 


A  fhort  MEMORIAL  of  the  Life  and  Death  of  a  Fellow 
Labourer  in  the  Church,  our  valuable  Friend 
JOSEPH  WHITE,  late  of  BUCK^COUNTY. 


DANIEL  xi.  33.  xii.  4. 

"  And  they  that  underftand  among  the  People  /hall  inftruft  many. 
"  Majiy  fliall  run  to  and  fro,  and  Knowledge  fhall  be  increafed." 


PHILADELPHIA,     Printed. 

LONDON:     Reprinted 
By  JAMES  PHILLIPS,  George-Yard,  Lombard-Street. 

M  *  2     9  «MDCC-LXXX- 


BX 

T19S 

C47AI 


T  O     T  H  E 


R     E     A     D     E     R. 


jn  TN  the  perufal  of  the  following  pages  thou 
§  _£_  wilt  receive  a  pious  man's  plain  account 
5  of  his  beginning  in  the  weighty  work  of 
-  religion,  and  his  progrefs  in  a  life  devoted 
to  promote  the  caufe  of  righteoufnefs,  and 
g»the  real  happinefs  of  mankind. 

Having  experienced  the  fpiritual  baptifm, 
^  which  is   effential  to  falvation,  and  abiding 
-•^iji'a  ftate  of  watchfulnefs   and  humility,  he 
<  became,  under  the  Lord's  anointing,  a  well 
qualified   inflrument  for  the  inftruclion  and 
A  edification  of  others  in  the  way  of  godlinefs; 
^  and,  by  attending  to  the  gift  of  gofpel  mi- 
;  ^  niftry  committed  to  his  truft,  and  perform- 
xing  the  duties  required  of  him,  fie  witnefTed 
^a  growth  from  ftature  to  ftature,  and  attained 
Cto  be  an   upright  elder  and    father   in   the 
church,  being  an  example  to  the  believers  in 
wordt  in  coniierfation,  infpirit,  in  faith,  and 
charity. 

It  is  not  for  form  fake,  or  from  a  mere 
motive  of  commendation,  that  any  thing  is 
here  premifed  refpe&ing  the  deceafed;    but, 
as  the  enfuing  narrative  will   be  likely   to 
A  2  come 


come  under  the  obfervation  of  many  to  whom 
he  was  either  little  known,  or  wholly  a 
flranger,  it  feems  neceffary,  for  the  inform- 
ation of  fuch  enquirers,  to  make  known  the 
eftimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  bre- 
thren with  whom  he  was  connected  in  reli- 
gious fociety;  who  have  given  full  declara- 
tion of  their  Chriflian  unity  and  fellowship 
with  him,  and  that  his  life  and  conduct 
adorned  the  doctrine  of  the  gofpel,  which  he 
was  concerned  to  publifh. 

The  monthly  and  quarterly-meetings  of 
which  he  was  a  member  from  their  firft  efta- 
blifhment,  and  who  were  many  years  par- 
takers of  his  pious  example  and  labours,  after 
recounting  divers  of  his  vifits  abroad,  which 
are  fully  related  by  himfelf,  teftify,  that 

*  Although  he  was  of  a  weakly  conftitu- 
tion,  and  often  infirm,  efpecially  in  the 
latter  part  of  his  life,  yet  he  appeared  to 
be  much  devoted  to  the  fervice  of  truth 
and  the  good  of  mankind,  and  gave  up  his 
time  for  that  purpofe,  when  he  apprehended 
it  was  required  of  him,  being  favoured 
with  a  fufficiency  of  outward  things  -,  and 
we  believe  he  flood  loofe  from  the  world, 
and  its  connections,  not  feeking,  but  re- 
fraining opportunities  he  might  have  had 
to  get  outward  riches.  He  vifited  neigh- 
bouring yearly,  quarterly,  and  other  meet- 
ings of  friends,  at  times,  to  his  laft  year, 
and  was  truly  ufeftil  in  the  difcipline  of 

*  the 


the  church,  having  a  valuable  gift  in  that 
refpecl: ;  and  was  a  good  example,  in  a  di- 
ligent care  to  attend  all  the  meetings,  both 
for  worfhip  and  difcipline,  to  which  he  be- 
longed ;  cautious  of  being  forward  in  his 
publick  appearances,  and,  for  the  moft  part, 
exampled  us  to  filence  in  our  meetings  at 
home,  efpecially  in  the  latter  part  of  his 
time :  yet  when  he  did  appear  in  teftimony, 
we  think  it  may  be  truly  faid,  his  doctrine 
dropped  as  the  dew,  being  lively,  and  edi- 
fying to  the  honeft-hearted,  though  clofe 
and  fearching  to  the  carelefs  profefTors,  as 
well  as  to  the  profane  and  hypocritical.' 
*  The  elders  who  have  ruled  well  are  to 
be  accounted  honourable ;  fo  the  remem- 
brance of  the  fatherly,  diligent,  humble, 
upright,  honeft,  and  felf- denying  example 
of  this  our  deceafed  friend,  as  alfo  his  va- 
rious fervices  in  our  meetings  and  neigh- 
bourhood, remain  frefh,  and  of  a  pleafant 
favour  to  many  minds/ 

AbftracT:  from  the  teftimony  of  the  month- 
ly-meeting of  Nottingham,  dated  fourth 
month  twenty-feventh,  1776,  and  figned 
by  Samuel  England,  clerk. 

Which  is  certified  to  be  read  and  approved 
in  the  Weftern  quarterly-meeting  held 
at  London-Grove,  in  Chefter  county, 
the  nineteenth  of  the  eighth  month> 
1776,  by  Ifaac  Jackfon,  clerk. 

In 


(     vi     ) 

In  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  which 
memorial  concerning  him,  many  others  of 
his  brethren,  in  various  places,  can  freely 
fubfcribe. 

His  deportment  was  grave  and  reverent, 
his  judgment  found  and  clear,  in  matters  of 
a  fpiritual  or  temporal  concern ;  and  his  na- 
tural difpoiition  being  chearful,  he  fometimes 
difcovered  a  turn  of  pleafantry  in  converfa- 
tion,  which,  being  careful  to  circumfcribe 
within  due  limitations,  rendered  his  com- 
pany innocently  agreeable  and  inftructive. 

Being  deeply  fenfible  of  the  weight  and 
folemnity  of  the  gofpel  miniftry,  he  mani- 
fefted  great  circumfpection  and  care,  that  it 
might  be  preferved  pure  and  unblemimed 
from  miftaken  or  falfe  appearances,  in  him- 
felf  or  others;  and  in  the  exercife  of  his  gift, 
his  declarations  were  plain,  familiar,  and 
concife,  accompanied  with  a  fervent  concern 
that  his  fellow- believers,  and  all  others, 
might  be  brought  to  the  fure  knowledge  of 
an  holy  living  principle  given  to  direct  and 
lead  into  true  devotion  of  heart,  and  the 
practice  of  felf-denial,  confiftent  with  the 
doctrine  and  precepts  of  Chrift  Jefus  our 
Lord ;  for  the  prevalence  and  enlargement 
of  whofe  peaceable  kingdom  he  was  earneftly 
engaged,  as  the  following  narrative  alfo. makes 
evident,  that  with  a  degree  of  propriety  he 
might  have  adopted  the  language  of  an  emi- 
nent minifter  in  the  early  age  of  the  Chriftian, 
church,  addrefled  to  the  believers,  "  Know-. 

u"  in§ 


(     vii     ) 

"  ing  that  fhortly  I  muft  put  off  this  my 
"  tabernacle,  even  as  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift 
"  hath  fhewn  me :  moreover,  I  will  endea- 
"  vour  that  you  may  be  able  after  my  de- 
f '  ceafe  to  have  thefe  things  in  remembrance; 
*'  for  we  have  not  followed  cunningly  de- 
"  vifed  fables,  when  we  made  known  unto 
"  you  the  power  and  coming  of  our  Lord 
"  Jefus  Chrift."  2  Pet.  i.  14,  15,  1 6. 

What  he  hath  written,  and  left  us,  is  now 
recommended  to  thy  perufal  and  confidera- 
tion  j  in  which,  if  thou  art  ferioufly  atten- 
tive, and  not  fuperficial,  thou  mayeft,  un- 
der the  Divine  bleffing,  receive  profitable  in- 
ftruction  in  righteoufnefs,  which  is  the  in- 
tent of  the  publication. 

PHILADELPHIA,  9.th  month,  1779. 


A  N 


A    N 

ACCOUNT 

O  F     T  H  E 

LI  FE   AND    TRAVELS 

O     F 

JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

CHAP.     I. 

His  early  fenfe  of  the  imprejjions  of  divine  /ove, 
and  Jpiritual  confifls  in  bis  youth — Death 
of  his  father — His  marriage — The  fettle- 
jnent  of  a  monthly  meeting  at  Nottingham 
— His  joining  with  other  friends  in  i)i/iting 
of  families  the  firft  and  fecond  time — His 
being  appointed  an  Elder,  and  Jirfl  appear- 
ance in  the  minijiry,  &c. 

I  WAS  born  in  the  townfhip  of  Notting- 
ham,   in    the    county  of  Chefter,    and 
province  of  Pennfylvania,  on  the  Fourth 
day  of  the  Sixth  month,   1705  ;    and   was 
tenderly  brought    up    in  profeffion    of    the 
Truth  by  my  parents,  JOHN  and  HANNAH 
CHURCHMAN;  who  were  diligent  attenders 
B  of 


2       THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

of  Religious  Meetings,  both  on  the  firft, 
and  other  days  of  the  week,  and  encouragers 
of  their  children  in  that  practice  -,  which 
is  certainly  a  duty  in  parents  to  do,  and 
often  owned  by  the  reaches  of  Divine  Love, 
even  to  thofe  who  are  very  young  in  years, 
of  which  I  am  a  living  witnefs.  For  though 
I  early  felt  reproof  for  bad  words  and  ac- 
tions, yet  knew  not  whence  it  came,  until 
about  the  age  of  eight  years,  as  I  fat  in  a 
fmall  meeting,  the  Lord,  by  the  Teachings 
of  his  heavenly  love  and  goodnefs,  fo  over- 
came and  tendered  my  heart,  and  by  his  glo- 
rious light  dilcovered  to  me  the  knowledge 
of  himfelf,  that  I  faw  myfelf,  and  what  I 
had  been  doing,  and  what  it  was  which  had 
reproved  me  for  evil ;  and  I  was  made  in  the 
fecret  of  my  heart  to  confefs,  that  childhood 
and  youth,  and  the  fooliih  actions  and  words 
to  which  they  are  propenfe,  are  truly  vanity; 
yet  blefTed  for  ever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord ! 
who,  in  his  infinite  mercy  and  goodnefs, 
clearly  informed  me,  that,  if  I  would  mind 
the  difcoveries  of  his  Truth  and  pure  Light 
for  the  future,  what  I  had  done  in  the  time 
of  my  ignorance  he  would  wink  at  and  for- 
give. And  Oh !  the  flream  of  Love  which 
filled  my  heart  with  folid  joy  at  that  time, 
and  lafted  for  many  days,  is  beyond  all  ex- 
preffion.  Indeed  I  was  early  taught  to  think 
different  from  fuch  who  hold  the  perdition 
of  infants,  and  am  fince  confirmed  in  fully 
believing  that  the  fin  of  our  firft  parents  is 

not 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.       3 

not  imputed  to  us,  (though  as  their  offspring 
we  are  by  nature  prone  to  evil,  which  brings 
wrath)  until,  by  the  difcovery  of  light  and 
grace,  we  are  taught  to  diftinguim  between 
good  and  evil,  and  in  the  feed  and  inward 
principle  that  fheweth  the  evil,  we  feel  the 
enmity  placed  againft  the  evil,  and  the  au- 
thor thereof,  the  devil,  or  wicked  one.  If 
we  afterwards  commit  thofe  things  which 
we  faw  to  be-  evil,  we  then  fall  under  con- 
demnation and  wrath :  and  here  every  foul 
that  fins  mufl  die  to  the  fin  he  hath  com- 
mitted, and  witnefs  the  being  raifed  again  by 
the  power  of  God  into  newnefs  of  life  in 
Chrift  Jefus,  not  to  live  to  himfelf,  to  ful- 
fil the  will  of  the  flem,  but  to  live  unto 
him  who  died  to  take  away  fin. 

I  may  not  forget  to  relate  this  one  thing  : 
my  father  fent  me  about  three  miles  on  an 
errand;  I  rode  a  mare  which  had  a  colt,  per- 
haps half  a  year  old ;  on  my  return  home 
the  colt  ran  away  from  the  mare,  to  a  com- 
pany of  wild  horfes,  which  were  feeding 
not  far  from  the  path  I  was  in;  fo  I  went 
home  without  the  colt.  My  father  afked 
me  where  the  colt  was ;  I  told  him  where  it 
went  from  me ;  he  bid  me  go  to  the  place 
with  fpeed,  that  it  might  follow  the  mare 
home.  I  went,  and  found  the  wild  horfes 
feeding  on  a  piece  of  ground  where  the  tim- 
ber trees  had  been  killed,  perhaps  about  two 
or  three  years ;  but,  before  I  went  among 
the  dead  trees,  a  mighty  wind  arofe,  which 
B  2  blew 


4       THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

blew  fome  down,  and  many  limbs  flew  about. 
I  flood  ftill,  with  my  mind  turned  inward  to 
the  Lord,  who  I  believed  was  able  to  pre- 
fer ve  me  from  hurt ;  fo  I  pafled  among  the 
trees  without  fear,  lave  the  fear  of  the  Lord; 
which  fills  the  hearts  of  his  humble  depend- 
ing children  with  love  that  is  ftronger  than 
death.  I  found  the  colt,  which  readily  fol- 
lowed the  mare,  and  I  returned  home,  with 
great  bowednefs  of  heart,  and  thankfulnefs 
to  the  Lord,  for  his  mercy  and  goodnefs  to 
me  on  this  occafion. 

It  was  my  practice  when  I  went  to  bed 
to  examine  how  I  had  fpent  the  paft  day, 
and  to  endeavour  to  feel  the  prefence  of  the 
Lord  near,  which  I  did  for  fome  confiderable 
time  prefer  to  all  other  things,  and  I  found 
this  practice  a  great  help  to  ileep  fweetly; 
and  by  long  experience  I  can  recommend  it 
to  children,  and  to  thofe  alfo  of  riper  age. 

I  fuppofe  that  no  one  living  knew  my 
condition ;  for  I  delighted  to  keep  hidden, 
yet  quick  to  obferve  the  conduct  of  others. 
I  remember  that  a  perfon  once  at  my  fa- 
ther's, who  fpake  about  religious  matters 
with  an  affected  tone,  as  if  he  was  a  good 
man;  when  he  went  away  I  was  near  him; 
and  when  he  mounted  his  horfe,  taking  a 
diflike,to  fome  of  his  motions,  he  called  him 
an  ugly  dumb  beafl,  with  fuch  an  accent  as 
befpake  great  difpleafure,  and  grieved  me 
much ;  for  I  did  believe  that  a  man  whofe 
mind  was  fweetened  with  divine  love  truly, 

would 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.       5 

would  not  fpeak  wrathfully  or  diminutively, 
even  of  the  beafts  of  the  field,  which  were 
given  to  man  for  his  ufe ;  he  did  not  make 
them  himfelf.  I  relate  this  inftance  that  it 
may  be  a  warning  to  all,  that  they  be  care- 
ful of  giving  offence  to  the  little  ones. 

Notwithftanding  I  had  been  favoured  as 
before  mentioned,  yet,  as  I  grew  in  years,  I 
was  much  given  to  play,  and  began  to  delight 
again  in  feveral  things  for  which  I  had  be- 
fore been  reproved,  and  ftill,  by  the  divine 
witnefs  in  my  mind,  was  brought  under 
judgment  for:  but  having  loft  my  innocence 
and  covering  of  the  pure  blefled  fpirit,  I  en- 
deavoured through  fear  to  fly  from  the  voice 
of  the  holy  fpirit  in  my  own  heart.  The  enemy 
perfuaded,me  that  I  could  never  be  reftored 
to  my  former  ftate,  becaufe  I  had  finned 
again  ft  fo  great  knowledge ;  or  if  I  was,  the 
j  udgment  through  which  I  muft  pafs  would 
be  intolerable  to  bear,  fo  that  I  had  better 
be  chearful,  and  take  my  eafe  and  delight. 
But  when  I  was  about  nine  years  old  my  fa- 
ther fent  me  to  fchool  to  learn  to  read,  (hav- 
ing been  taught  to  know  my  letters  and  fpell 
a  little  at  home)  in  which  I  took  great  de- 
light, and  thereby  diverted  myfelf  from 
feeling  my  pain  of  mind,  for  the  great  lofs 
of  my  innocence  which  I  had  fuftained. 
And  although  the  man  by  whom  I  was  taught 
was  poor,  and  fat  in  his  loom,  being  a 
weaver,  while  the  children  read  to  him,  I 
improved  very  faft,  and  he  foon  put  me  to 
B  3  writing  -, 


6         THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

writing  j  and,  finding  my  capacity  full  as 
ripe  as  is  common  in  boys  of  that  age,  he 
began  to  teach  me  arithmetick :  yet  gracious 
goodnefs  frill  favoured  me  with  conviction, 
and  by  his  fpirit  was  witnefs  againft  me. 
And  in  mercy  the  Lord  vifited  me  with  a 
fore  fit  of  ficknefs,  and  by  his  rod  of  cor- 
redtion  brought  me  a  little  more  to  myfelf. 
This  was  in  the  fore  part  of  the  winter,  when 
I  was  between  nine  and  ten  years  of  age. 
And  being  pretty  well  recovered  for  fome 
weeks,  I  had  in  the  following  fpring  a  re- 
lapfe  of  the  fame  diforder,  (the  pleurify)  in 
which,  by  outward  correction  with  ficknefs 
and  in  ward  judgment,  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to 
draw  me  to  himfelf ;  which  caufed  me  to  renew 
my  covenant  with  him,  and  I  did  hope  ne- 
ver more  to  flray  from  him,  to  follow  lying 
vanities,  whofe  fweets  I  had  experienced  to 
be  bitter,  yea  exceeding  bitternefs  in  the 
end.  I  had  taken  great  delight  from  a  child 
to  play  with  whittles,  and  pipes,  made  of  the 
bark  of  fmall  branches  of  trees,  and  of  ftraws 
of  wheat  and  rye,  but  now  it  grieved  me  to 
obferve  children  delight  therein,  and  I  ven- 
tured to  tell  rny  mind  to  fome  of  them  con- 
cerning fuch  things. 

Man  is  diilinguifhed  from  other  creatures 
not  only  by  his  voice,  but  by  varying  the 
breath,  together  with  the  orderly  motion  of 
tongue  and  lips,  that  voice  is  made  to  convey 
the  ideas  of  the  mind  and  thoughts  of  the 
heart  to  his  fellow- creatures  -,  and  as  he  was 

created 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.       7 

created  to  glorify  his  Maker,  the  end  and 
intention  of  his  voice  mould  be  directed  to 
promote  his  glory  among  men,  whether  in 
things  natural  or  fpiritual,  that  is,  of  this 
life,  or  that  to  come.  Mufick,  as  now  com- 
monly ufed,  and  whittling  and  finging, 
have  no  fuch  tendency,  but  are  rather  diver- 
iions  of  the  mind  from  what  it  ought  to  be 
employed  about,  and  therefore  a  bafe  con- 
fumption  of  precious  time,  which  man  muft 
be  accountable  for ;  which,  if  enough  re- 
garded, inftead  of  mufick,  whittling  and  ling- 
ing  merry,  fooliih,  and  prophane  fongs,  many 
would  have  occafion  to  lament  and  weep  for 
their  mifpent  time.  I  leave  it  as  a  caution 
to  parents,  to  beware  of  indulging  their  dear 
children  in  any  thing  which  may  imprefs 
their  tender  minds  with  a  den* re  after  mufic, 
or  fuch  diverfion,  when  they  grow  in  years;. 
but  that,  inftead  thereof,  by  living  in  the 
pure  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  near  the  fpirit 
of  truth  in  their  own  hearts,  they  may  be 
furnifhed  with  example  and  precept  to  di- 
recl:  the  minds  of  their  offspring  to  attend  to 
the  voice  of  him  who  called  to  Samuel  in 
days  of  old,  and  remains  to  be  the  fame 
teacher  to  his  people  in  this  age.  May  his 
holy  name  be  magnified  for  ever  and  ever  ! 

I  retained  my  care  and  circumfpedtion  for 
fome  time,  but  through  unwatchfulnefs  and 
a  defire  for  play,  which  led  into  lightnefs 
and  forgetfulnefs,  I  loft  this  ttate  before  I 
was  twelve  years  of  age;  and  though  the 
B  4  Lord 


8        THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Lord  was  near,  and  followed  me  by  his  re- 
proof, in  order  to  bring  me  under  judgment, 
I  fled  from  it  as  much  as  I  could  j  having 
let  in  a  belief,  that  as  I  had  been  favoured 
to  tafte,  in  fo  wonderful  a  manner,  "  of 
"  the  good  word  of  life,  and  power  of  the 
"  world  to  come,  and  had  fo  fhamefully  fal- 
"  len  away,  there  remained  for  me  no  more 
"  facrifice  for  fin,  but  a  fearful  looking  for 
"  of  judgment,  and  fiery  indignation ;" 
which,  as  I  thought,  feemed  to  burn  in  me 
to  that  degree,  that  I  was  afraid  to  be  alone  ; 
for  it  feemed  to  be  loudly  proclaimed  in  me, 
that  whether  I  eat  or  drank,  waked  or  flept, 
I  was  accurfed.  When  alone  I  abhorred 
myfelf  ;  but  when  in  company  ufed  my  ut- 
moft  endeavours  to  hide  my  condition,  by 
being  chearful  and  arch  in  my  difcourfe,  and 
was  thought  by  moil  young  people  to  have  a 
knack,  as  they  called  it,  at  jefting  and  witty 
turns;  yet  even  in  this  time  I  entertained 
fuch  a  value  for  religion,  that  I  was  not 
willing  to  reveal  my  fituation,  left  I  mould 
be  a  reproach  thereto,  or  difcourage  others 
from  feeking  happinefs.  But  when  night 
came,  and  I  went  to  bed,  no  tongue  can  ex- 
prefs  the  anguim  I  felt;  afraid  to  lay  awake, 
and  afraid  to  defire  fleep,  left  I  mould  be  cut 
off  from  the  land  of  the  living,  and  my 
portion  appointed  in  utter  darknefs.  I  fo 
far  neglected  my  learning,  that  when  about 
thirteen  years  old  I  could  not  read  but  in  a 
poor  manner,  though  once  noted  to  be  a 

ready 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.       9 

ready  reader.  I  was  not  willing  that  good 
friends  mould  take  notice  of  me,  or  look 
me  fteadily  in  the  face  j  for  I  thought  they 
would  difcern  my  wickednefs,  and  it  would 
be  a  trouble  to  them,  or  by  their  reproving 
me,  add  to  my  diftrefs.  I  feemed  to  be  left 
without  any  power  to  refift  what  I  knew  to 
be  evil,  and  being  afhamed  that  I  had  fo  loft 
my  little  learning,  I  fought  to  divert  myfelf* 
by  endeavouring  to  regain  it.  My  former 
genius  and  delight  fo  returned,  that  when  I 
was  about  fifteen  years  of  age  I  had  made 
great  improvement,  not  only  in  reading,  but 
in  writing  and  arithmetick,  and  feveral 
branches  of  the  mathematicks,  and  began 
to  value  myfelf  in  fome  degree  thereon ;  and 
fo  I  got  over  the  convictions  of  the  divine 
witnefs,  which  fpoke  trouble  in  me.  Never- 
thelefs,  during  this  time  I  kept  clofe  in  at- 
tending meetings,  hoping,  at  feafons,  that 
perhaps  the  Lord  would  condefcend  once 
more  to  vifit  me :  for  a  faying  of  an  eminent 
pious  man  was  revived  in  my  remembrance, 
"  That  if  there  remained  a  defire  in  the 
"  heart  after  redemption,  as  it  was  kept  to, 
"  the  Lord  would  again  affuredly  vifit  fuch 
"  in  his  own  time."  So  that  I  was  fearful 
of  neglecting  meetings,  if  my  parents  had 
not  forwarded  me,  left  I  might  mifs  of  the 
good  intended  for  me.  Yet  the  fubtle  work- 
ings of  the  power  of  darknefs  was  at  times 
very  great;  fuggefting  to  me  that  all  things 
came  by  nature,  and  that  there  was  no  God, 

no 


io      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

no  heaven,  no  devil;  no  punimment  for  evil; 
religion  a  jeft,  and  painful  care  about  futu- 
rity a  filly  whim,  propagated  to  deprive  peo- 
ple of  pleafure.  But,  blefled  be  the  Lord  ! 
he  preferved  me  from  that  fnare :  for  while 
I  felt  his  judgment  for  fin,  I  believed  in  his 
being  and  holinefs.  And  I  am  indeed  fully 
of  the  mind,  that  no  man  can  be  an  atheiil 
before  he  acls  contrary  to  knowledge,  v/hen, 
to  allay  the  horror  and  anguifli  of  mind  he 
feels  for  the  commiflion  of  fin,  he  clofes  in 
with  this  temptation.  At  other  times  the 
fame  fubtle  power  would  tempt  me  to  defpair 
of  mercy,  which,  if  given  way  to,  would 
lead  to  diftra&ion ;  but  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  was  underneath,  though  for  my  difo- 
bedience  he  fuffered '  me  to  remain  in  the 
wildernefs,  and  to  dwell  among  fiery  fer- 
pents,  until  he  had  wafted  that  in  me,  which 
lufted  after  forbidden  things. 

In  this  flate  I  continued  until  I  was  about 
nineteen  years  of  age ;  and  as  I  was  walking 
one  day  to  meeting,  thinking  on  my  forlorn 
condition,  and  remembering  the  bread  in  my 
heavenly  Father's  houfe,  when  I  was  a  duti- 
ful child,  and  that  by  ftraying  from  him, 
and  fpending  my  portion,  I  had  been  eight 
years  in  grievous  want;  I  inwardly  cried,  if 
thou  art  pleafed  again  to  vifit  me,  I  befeech 
thee,  O  Lord  !  vifit  my  body  with  ficknefs, 
or  pain,  or  whatever  thou  may  pleafe,  fo 
that  the  will  of  the  old  man  may  be  flam 
with  the  tranfgreffion,  and  every  thing  in  me 

that 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN,      n 

that  thy  controverfy  is  againft  ;  that  I  may 
be  made  a  fandtified  veffel  by  thy  power; 
fpare  only  my  life,  until  my  redemption  is 
wrought,  and  my  peace  made  with  thee  ! 

About  this  time  my  father  died,  in  the 
tenth  month,  1724,  which  was  a  great  lofs 
to  our  whole  family ;  and  as  he  had  allotted 
me  to  live  with  and  take  care  of  my  mother, 
it  became  my  duty  to  keep  moftly  at  home. 
I  fpent  near  a  year  much  in  the  condition 
above-mentioned,  often  out  of  hope  of  ever 
attaining  to  that  ftate  I  had  witnelTed  when 
very  young;  but  in  the  fall  of  the  year  after 
1  had  arrived  to  the  age  of  twenty  years,  it 
pleafed  the  Lord  to  remember  me,  who  had 
been  an  exile,  in  captivity  under  the  old 
tafkmafter  in  Egypt  fpiritually,  and  by  his 
righteous  judgments,  mixed  with  unfpeaka- 
ble  mercies,  to  make  way  for  my  deliverance. 
I  was  vifited  with  a  fore  fit  of  licknefs, 
which  in  a  few  days  fo  fully  awakened  me, 
that  I  had  no  hope  of  ever  being  again  in- 
trufted  with  health.  My  mifpent  time,  and 
all  my  tranfgreffions,  were  brought  to  my 
remembrance,  and  heavy  judgment  was  upon 
me  for  them  :  I  was  met  with  in  this  nar- 
row path,  and  could  no  longer  fly  from  God 
and  his  fpirit  in  my  confcience,  whofe  fore 
difpleafure  I  had  juflly  incurred.  I  had 
heard  of  men  who  had  been  notorious  offen- 
ders, and  fled  from  the  jufHce  of  the  com- 
mon law,  until  they  became  outlawed;  fuch 
in  a  fpiritual  fenfe  my  cafe  appeared  to  be.  I 

thought 


12      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

thought  I  had  as  it  were  heard  an  act  of 
grace  and  free  pardon  repeatedly  proclaimed, 
if  I  would  return  and  live  uprightly  for  the 
future;  but  in  the  time  of  fuch  vifitations  I 
concluded  it  was  only  to  bring  me  under 
judgment  to  take  me  from  my  pleafure,  for 
that  mine  offences  would  never  be  pardoned, 
and  fo  I  had  withftood  or  neglected  thofe 
vifitations.  I  now  faw  clearly  that  herein 
I  had  followed  the  lying  fuggeftions  of  Satan 
mine  enemy.  At  this  time  my  old  will  in 
the  fallen  nature  gave  up  its  life,  and  I  cried, 
I  am  not  worthy  to  live  or  enjoy  favour  j 
yet,  O  Lord!  if  thou  wilt  be  pleafed  to 
look  on  me  with  an  eye  of  pity,  do  what 
thou  wilt  with  me,  magnify  thy  own 
name,  prepare  me  by  thy  judgments  and 
power,  that  thy  mercy  may  be  {hewn  in 
and  by  me,  whether  thou  cut  the  thread 
of  my  life,  or  fhall  grant  me  more^  days, 
which  is  onl^  in  thy  power.'  Now  my 
heart  was  made  exceedingly  tender,  I  wept 
much,  and  an  evidence  was  given  me  that 
the  Lord  had  heard  my  cry,  and  in  mercy 
looked  down  on  me  from  his  holy  habita- 
tion -,  and  a  willing  heart  and  patience  was 
given  me  to  bear  his  chaltifements,  and  the 
working  of  his  eternal  word  of  power, 
which  created  all  things  at  the  beginning, 
and  by  which  poor  fallen  man  only  is  created 
anew  in  the  heavenly  image,  and  prepared  to 
praife  him  with  acceptance,  who  lives  for 
ever  and  ever. 

Whilft 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      13 

Whilft  I  lay  in  this  condition  perhaps  I 
was  thought,  by  thofe  who  watched  with  me, 
to  be  near  expiring,  but  though  I  faid  little 
or  nothing,  I  believe  I  was  quite  fenfible, 
yet  exceedingly  weakened,  having  for  about 
twenty- four  hours  felt  more  inward  and  in- 
exprefiible  anguifh  than  outward  pain,  which 
was  no  doubt  great.  I  take  it  to  be  toward 
the  morning  of  the  fifth  day  and  night  of 
my  illnefs,  that  I  felt  the  incomes  and  own- 
ing of  divine  love  in  a  greater  degree  than 
ever ;  for  the  profped:  I  had  of  fo  great  for- 
givenefs  made  me  love  the  more :  for  love  is 
ever  reciprocal.  I  remember  that  I  faw  the 
morning  light,  and  thought  all  things  looked 
new  and  fweet.  I  lay  where  the  fun  fhone 
near  or  on  my  bed,  and  have  fometimes 
fince  thought  that,  being  weak,  the  ftrength 
of  the  light,  and  too  much  company  hurt 
me.  I  leave  this  hint  to  eflcite  nurfes  and 
thofe  who  have  the  care  of  very  weak  indif- 
poled  people  to  beware  of  letting  over  much 
light  come  upon  them,  or  many  vifitors, 
except  they  be  fuch  who  are  fenfible  of  the 
weak  by  being  inward  and  quiet,  waiting  to 
feel  the  fympathy  which  truth  gives;  the 
company  of  fuch  being  truly  refreihing. 

It  pleafed  the  Lord  fo  to  reftore  me,  that 
I  recovered  my  uiual  ftrength,  and  was  fre- 
quently humbled  under  a  fenfe  of  the  tender 
dealings  of  a  merciful  God,  whofe  goodnefs 
and  owning  love  I  felt  to  be  very  near.  I 
then  loved  retirement,  and  inwardly  to  feel 

after 


14      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

after  the  incomes  of  life,  and  was  often 
fearful  left  I  mould  again  fall  away.  In 
this  time  it  was  manifefted  to  me,  that  if 
in  patience  I  ftood  faithful  I  fhould  be  called 
to  the  work  of  the  miniflry.  I  loved  to  at- 
tend religious  meetings,  especially  thofe  for 
difcipline;  and  it  was  clearly  fhewn  me, 
that  all  who  attend  thofe  meetings  mould 
inwardly  wait,  in  great  awfulnefs,  to  know 
the  immediate  prefence  of  Chrift,  the  head 
of  the  Church,  to  give  them  an  underftand- 
ing  what  their  feveral  fervices  are,  and  for 
ability  to  anfwer  the  requirings  of  truth ; 
for  it  is  by  the  light  and  fpirit  thereof  that 
the  Lord's  work  is  done  with  acceptance, 
and  none  mould  prefume  to  fpeak  or  acl: 
without  its  motion  or  direction  :  for  they 
who  ad:  and  fpeak  without  it  do  often  darken 
counfel,  miflead  the  weak,  and  expofe  their 
own  folly,  to  the  burthen  and  grief  of  fen- 
lible  friends.  It  was  in  great  fear  that  I 
attempted  to  fpeak  in  thefe  meetings,  and 
as  I  kept  low,  with  an  eye  fingle  to  the 
honour  of  truth,  I  felt  peace  and  inward 
ilrength  to  increafe  from  time  to  time :  and 
it  is  good  for  all  who  are  concerned  to  fpeak 
to  matters  in  meetings  for  difcipline,  in  the 
firft  place  to  take  heed  that  their  own  fpirits 
do  not  prompt  thereto,  and  to  mind  the 
time  when  to  fpeak  fitly :  for  a  word  in 
feafon  from  a  pure  heart  is  precious,  and 
frequently  prevents  debates  inflead  of  minif- 
tering  contention;  and  when  they  have  fpoken 

to 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      15 

to  bulinefs,  they  fhould  turn  inward  to  feel 
whether  the  pure  truth  owns  them,  and  in 
that  reft,  without  an  over  anxious  care  whe- 
ther it  fucceeds  at  that  time  or  not :  fo 
friends  will  be  preferved  from  being  lifted 
up  becaufe  their  fervice  is  immediately  own- 
ed ;  or  if  it  fhould  be  rejected  or  flighted, 
in  this  inward  humble  ftate  the  labour  is  felt 
and  feen  to  be  the  Lord's. 

It  is  a  great  favour  from  the  Lord  that  he 
is  pleafed  to  cover  his  children  with  his 
pure  fear,  and  array  their  fouls  with  the  gar- 
ment of  humility,  that  they  may  Hand  in 
his  prefence  with  acceptance,  waiting  to  be 
taught  of  his  ways,  in  meeknefs  to  be  guided 
in  judgment :  thefe  only  feel  the  neceffity  of 
minding  that  excellent  exhortation,  "  Be  ye 
"  ftedfaft,  immoveable,  always  abounding  in 
•"  the  work  of  the  Lord."  In  a  degree  of 
reverent  thankfulnefs  I  blefs  the  name  of  the 
Lord  through  his  beloved  Son,  that  I  then, 
according  to  my  meafure,  knew  what  I  now 
write:  it  v/as  a  time  of  growing  with  me;  I 
rarely  pafTed  a  day  without  feeling  the  in- 
comes of  divine  life,  and  was  favoured 
ftrongly  to  defire  "  the  fincere  milk  of  the 
'*  holy  word,"  that  in  humility  I  might 
grow  thereby  in  fubftance.  But  afterwards 
I  was  left  and  withdrawn  from,  fo  that  for 
days,  yea,  many  days  together,  I  was  with- 
out inward  refremment,  and  ready  to  fear 
that  I  had  offended  my  gracious  Redeemer ; 
and  being  thoughtful,  and  inwardly  engaged 

to 


16      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

to  know  the  caufe,  I  had  to  confider  that 
children,  though  they  may  be  thriving,  and 
darlings  of  their  natural  parents,  are  not  fit 
for  much  bufinefs  until  they  are  weaned, 
and  although  they  grow  finely,  they  are  gra- 
dually taught  to  wait  the  appointed  time  be- 
tween meals  before  they  have  much  care  of 
their  father's  bufinefs,  and  are  further  pre- 
pared, fo  as  to  mifs  a  fet  meal,  or  be  a  longer 
time  without  outward  food,  before  they  are 
fit  for  a  journey.  And  with  thefe  thoughts 
(leaving  the  reader  to  judge  from  whence 
they  came)  a  hope  began  to  revive  in  me 
that  I  was  not  forfaken,  which,  indeed,  as 
I  kept  patient,  I  was  abundantly  fenfible  of 
at  times,  even  thofe  times  which  are  in  the 
Lord's  hand:  for  his  children  experience 
that  the  times  of  refreshment  come  from 
him,  who,  when  he  hath  exercifed  and  proved 
them,  in  his  infinite  kindnefs  is  pleafed  to 
caufe  them  to  fit  down,  and  condefcends 
himfelf  to  ferve  them.  BlerTed  for  ever  be 
the  name  of  the  Lord !  who  knows  how  to 
prepare  his  foldiers  to  remain  faithful,  and 
to  indure  with  patience  what  the  natural 
man  would  account  hardnefs. 

I  had  ftrong  defires  that  elderly  friends 
mould  be  good  examples  to  the  youth,  not 
only  in  word  and  converfation,  but  in  meet- 
ings for  the  worfhip  of  God,  and  it  grieved 
me  exceedingly  to  fee  any  of  them  overcome 
with  fleep ;  and  my  concern  for  one  friend 
on  that  account  was  fo  great,  that  I  knew 

not 


of  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      17 

not  what  was  beft  to  do,  and  reafoned  after 
this  manner:  Lord!  thou  knoweft  that  I  am 
young,  and  he  an  elderly  man,  he  will  not 
take  it  well  that  I  mould  fpeak  to  him,  and 
perhaps  I  may  yet  fall,  and  if  fo,  the  more 
I  take  upon  me  the  greater  my  fall  will  be. 
Beiides,  though  I  have  fpoken  in  meetings 
for  difcipline,  when  truth  hath  been  flrong 
upon  me,  yet  out  of  meetings  I  am  not  fit 
to  reprove,  or  fpeak  to  particulars.  For  I 
was  cautious,  indeed,  in  thofe  days,  of  talk- 
ing about  religion  or  good  things,  from  a  fear 
of  getting  a  habit  thereof,  and  fo  not  know 
the  true  motion,  which  I  thought  I  had  ob- 
ferved  to  be  the  failing  of  fome.  In  this 
ftreight  it  came  into  my  mind  to  go  to  the 
perfon  in  the  night,  as  the  moft  private  time 
and  manner :  for  if  I  took  him  afide  before 
or  after  a  meeting,  others  might  wonder  for 
what,  and  I  might  betray  my  weaknefs,  and 
reproach  the  good  caufe,  and  do  no  good ; 
and  if  the  friend  mould  be  difpleafed  with 
me,  he  might  publickly  mew  what  otherwife 
he  would  conceal  after  a  private  deliberation. 
So  in  the  evening  I  went,  deliring  the  Lord 
to  go  with  me  and  guide  me,  if  it  was  a 
motion  from  him.  When  I  came  to  the 
houfe  it  was  dark  ;  I  called,  and  the  friend 
came  out  to  fee  who  was  there,  and  invited 
me  in.  I  told  him  I  was  in  hafte  to 
home,  but  wanted  to  fpeak  with  him  if 
pleafed,  and  fo  parTed  quietly  toward  home, 
to  draw  him  from  the  door,  and  then  told 
C  him 


i8      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

him  my  concern  for  him,  in  a  clofe,  honefr, 
plain  manner,  and,  without  flaying  to  reafon 
much,  left  him  in  a  tender  loving  difpofition, 
as  I  believe.  I  returned  home  with  great 
inward  peace.  "  When  thou  doeft  or  giveft 
"  alms,  let  not  thy  left  hand  know  what  thy 
"  right  doth,"  was  an  excellent  precept : 
that  left  hand  of  felf  mould  not  aft  in  fuch 
things ;  no  matter  how  privately  they  are 
done,  they  often  anfwer  the  end  better;  nei- 
ther is  it  a  fault  to  lay  things  low  and  fami- 
liar, the  truth  will  have  its  own  weight, 
and  accompany  what  it  dictates  with  its  own 
evidence.  My  intention  in  writing  this  is 
to  encourage  the  humbled  careful  traveller 
in  the  way  of  his  duty.  At  fome  times  it 
appeared  to  be  likely  to  do  moft  good  to 
write  my  mind  to  fome,  which  I  did  with 
fuccefs,  as  I  aimed  only  at  a  difcharge  of 
duty  in  the  moft  private  manner,  and  the 
good  of  thofe  to  whom  I  wrote. 

When  I  had  entered  the  twenty-fifth  year 
of  my  age  I  accompliihed  marriage  with 
Margaret  Brown,  a  virtuous  young  woman, 
whom  I  had  loved  as  a  fifter  for  feveral  years, 
becaufe  I  believed  me  loved  religion.  I 
think  I  may  fay  fafely  it  was  in  a  good  de- 
gree of  the  Lord's  pure  fear,  and  a  fenfe  of 
the  pointings  of  truth,  on  both  fides,  that 
we  took  each  other,  on  the  2yth  day  of  the 
eleventh  month  1729,  (old  ftile)  in  an  ap- 
pointed meeting  at  Eaft  Nottingham,  and  I 
thought  that  our  Heavenly  Father  owned  us 

with 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      19 

with  his  prefence  at  that  time.  The  cove- 
nants made  in  marriage  are  exceeding  great, 
and  I  think  they  can  never  be  rightly  kept 
and  truly  performed  without  Divine  affift- 
ance;  and  am  convinced,  if  all  who  enter  in- 
to a  marriage  ftate  would  in  the  Lord's  fear 
truly  feek  his  affiflance,  they  would  know 
their  own  tempers  kept  down ;  and  inftead 
of  jarring  and  difcord,  unity  of  fpirit,  har- 
mony of  condudt,  and  a  concern  to  be  exem- 
plary to  their  offspring,  would  increafe  and 
be  maintained. 

The  fummer  following,  in  the  year  1730, 
a  monthly-meeting  was  fettled  at  Notting- 
ham,.  (being  before  a  branch  of  New-garden 
monthly-meeting)  by  the  advice  and  ap- 
pointment of  the  quarterly-meeting.  This 
brought  a  fear  and  weighty  concern  upon  me 
and  many  others,  that  the  affairs  of  truth 
might  be  managed  to  the  honour  thereof; 
for  we  had  but  few  fubftantial  elderly  friends. 
In  a  fenfe  of  our  weaknefs,  it  was  the  breath- 
ing defire  of  my  foul  that  the  Lord  would 
be  pleafed,  for  his  own  fake,  and  the  ho- 
nour of  his  great  name,  to  be  near  to  his 
children,  and  infpire  them  with  wifdom  and 
judgment  for  his  own  work;  and,  blefTed 
for  ever  be  his  holy  name!  I  believe  he 
heard  our  cry,  and  in  meafure  anfwered  our 
prayers:  being  kept  low  and  humble,  it  was 
a  growing  time  to  feveral.  My  affection  for 
friends  of  New-garden  monthly-meeting  was 
fo  great,  that  for  many  months  after  we  parted 
C  2  from 


20      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

from  them,  I  feldom  miffed  attending  it,  and 
therein  had  great  fatisfaftion :  and  fome  of 
their  members  frequently  attended  ours,  for 
our  love  towards  each  other  was  mutual. 

When  I  was  about  twenty-fix  years  of  age 
fome  friends  were  appointed  to  perform  a  fa- 
mily viiit,  and  being  defirous  of  my  company, 
I  joined  with  them,  and  therein  felt  the  own- 
ings  of  truth  in  fome  degree  :  but  notwith- 
ilanding  I  faw  at  times  the  ftates  of  families 
and  particulars,  yet  not  in  fo  clear  a  manner 
as  I  thought  neceffary  to  become  my  duty  to 
open  my  mouth  in  the  fervice,  fave  now 
and  then,  in  a  private  way  to  particulars,  of 
which  none  knew,  except  thofe  to  whom  I 
fpake.  At  one  houfe  the  friends  on  the  fer- 
vice had  a  good  opportunity,  feveral  young 
folks,  fome  of  whom  were  not  of  the  fa- 
mily, being  prefent.  I  felt  the  Divine  pre-. 
fence  to  be  very  near,  and  a  motion  to  con- 
clude that  fitting  in  fupplication  and  thankf- 
giving  to  the  Lord,  but  was  not  hafty,  for 
fear  of  doing  what  was  not  required  of  me : 
fo  omitted  it,  and  afterwards  afked  an  expe- 
rienced worthy  minifter  if  he  had  ever 
known  any  friend  appear  in  a  meeting  in 
publick  prayer  before  they  had  ever  appeared 
in  publick  teftimony  ?  which  enquiry  I  made 
in  fuch  a  manner,  as  to  give  him  no  miftrufl 
of  me.  He  anfwered,  "  nay;  I  believe  it 
"  would  be  very  uncommon."  It  ftruck 
me  pretty  clofely,  but  I  kept  my  condition 
very  private,  having  been  exceedingly  fear- 
ful 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      21 

ful  of  deception,  and  now  began  to  doubt 
whether  it  was  not  a  delufion  for  me  to  en- 
tertain an  apprehenlion  that  I  mould  be  called 
to  the  work  of  the  miniftry,  the  concern 
whereof  had  been  at  times  very  heavy  upon 
me,  though  no  motion  that  felt  like  a  gen- 
tle command  to  break  filence,  until  at  the 
houfe  before  mentioned.  Now  I  let  in  rea- 
foning,  and  fo  departed  for  a  time  from  my 
inward  guide  and  fafeft  counfellor,  as  all  af- 
furedly  will,  who  place  their  dependence  on 
man  for  inftrudion  to  perform  duties  re- 
quired of  them,  or  who  forbear,  or  reafon 
againft  the  humbling  gentle  motions  and 
leadings  of  the  fpirit  of  truth.  Much  fafer 
it  is  to  attend  fteadily  thereunto  for  inftruc- 
tion  and  ability  to  perform  religious  fervices, 
which,  when  fo  performed  in  meeknefs,  we 
ought  to  be  tender  of  the  fentiments  of  our 
brethren  concerning  them,  and  not  over 
confident  of  our  call  and  commiffion  -,  for 
our  brethren  have  a  meafure  of  the  fame  fpi- 
rit by  which  we  are  taught,  and  have  a  fenfe 
and  right  thereby  given,  to  judge  of  our  fer- 
vice.  A  becoming  diffidence  of  ourfelves, 
and  a  readinefs  to  attend  to  the  advice  of 
fuch,  is  ever  the  badge  of  true  difciplefhip  : 
humbling  Divine  Love  teaches  to  efteem 
others  rather  than  ourfelves. 

This  was  an  exerciiing  time  to  me,  but  I 

did  not  difcover  it  to  any  one :   I  feemed  to 

be  quite  forfaken,    though  not   fenfible  of 

much  judgment  for  my  omiffion  of  duty ; 

C  3  fos 


22      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

for  I  could  with  fincerity  appeal  to  him  who 
knoweth  all  things,  that  it  did  not  proceed 
from  wilful  difobedience,  but  a  fear  of  fol- 
lowing a  wrong  fpirit;  and  a  fecret  hope  re- 
vived, that  my  gracious  Lord  and  Mafter 
would  not  quite  caft  me  off:  and,  bleffed  be 
his  holy  name!  he  did  not  leave  me  very 
long  before  I  was  favoured  as  ufual,  but  had 
no  motion  of  the  fame  kind. 

When  this  vifit  was  over  I  kept  much  at 
home,  yet  was  careful  to  attend  meetings  on 
the  firft  and  other  days  of  the  week,  and 
found  work  enough  to  watch  againft  a  luke- 
warm, indolent  ipirit,  which  would  come 
over  me  when  I  fat  down  to  wait  upon  God. 
Though  I  came  to  the  meeting  in  a  lively 
warm  engagement  of  mind,  I  found  the 
warfare  againft  lukewarmnefs,  fleepinefs,  and 
a  roving  mind,  mufr.  be  fteadily  maintained; 
and  if  none  of  thefe  hindrances  were  given 
way  to,  the  Lord,  when  he  had  proved  his 
children,  would  arife  for  their  help,  and  fcat- 
ter  his  and  their  enemies,  which  my  foul 
hath  experienced  many  times  beyond  expref- 
iion.  The  Lord  alone  is  all-powerful,  and 
worthy  to  be  waited  upon  and  worshipped  in 
humility  and  reverent  adoration  of  foul  for 
ever.  Indolence  and  lukewarmnefs  bring 
darknefs  and  death  over  a  meeting,  and,  when 
generally  given  way  to,  occasion  hard  work 
for  even  the  moft  livingly  exercifed  friends 
to  get  from  under  the  burthen  and  weight 
thereof.  It  was  a  mercy  that  I  was  preferved 

feeking, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      23 

feeking,  and  could  not  be  fatisfied  without 
feeling  the  renewings  of  Divine  favour,  by 
which  I  rather  grew  in  the  root  of  religion, 
though  I  thought  very  flow,  but  had  hope 
it  would  be  lafting. 

The  love  of  truth,  I  believe  it  was,  and  a 
defire  that  the  difcipline  and  good  order  of 
the  church  might  be  maintained,  made  me 
willing  to  take  coniiderable  pains  to  attend 
neighbouring  monthly -meetings,  which  I 
think  was  a  bleffing  to  me  in  fome  good  de- 
gree, being  thereby  often  inftru&ed  -,  and  I 
have  often  admired  at  the  flacknefs  of  fome, 
that  fuffer  trifling  things  to  keep  them  from 
their  meetings  for  worfhip  on  week  days  and 
firfl  days  •>  for  though  curioflty  brings  fuch 
to  monthly-meetings,  they  are  feldom  of 
any  real  fervice  when  they  come,  not  being 
fenflble  of  that  pure  Divine  Love  in  which 
the  church,  through  its  feveral  members, 
edifieth  itfelf:  and  as  any  become  truly 
fenfible  thereof,  they  will  delight  to  wait 
upon  God  with  their  brethren  and  fitters, 
who  is  the  fountain  of  pure  Love,  and  fo 
fills  the  hearts  of  his  humble  depending 
children  therewith,  that  by  it  they  are  known 
to  be  his  difciples. 

In  the  year  1731  our  ancient  and  worthy 
friend  William  Brown,  who  had  been  in  the 
flation  of  an  elder  many  years,  growing  fee- 
ble and  incapable  to  attend  the  quarterly- 
meeting  of  minifters  and  elders,  friends  of 
our  particular  meeting  propofed  me  to  the 
C  4  monthly- 


24      THE  LIFE   AND  TRAVELS 

monthly -meeting  for  that  fervice;  which 
brought  a  clofe  exercife  upon  me,  confider- 
ing  myfelf  a  youth,  and  the  weight  of  the 
fervice :  but,  after  a  folid  confideration,  I 
found  moft  peace  in  fubmitting  to  the  meet- 
ing, with  fervent  inward  defires  that  the  Lord 
would  be  pleafed  to  be  with  me  therein,  to 
preferve  me  from  acting  or  judging  in  my  own 
will  and  fpirit,  knowing  that  the  fervice  could 
not  be  performed  but  by  wifdom,  under- 
ftanding  and  ability  from  him.  When  I  at- 
tended thofe  large  and  weighty  meetings  of  mi- 
niters  and  elders,  the  care  and  fear  that  was 
upon  me  is  not  eafily  exprefled :  and  may  I 
never  forget  the  gracious  condefcenfion  of  kind 
Providence,  who  was  pleafed  to  own  me  by 
the  fhedding  abroad  of  his  love  in  my  heart, 
that  I  verily  thought  they  refembled  the 
fchool  of  the  prophets  ;  the  High  Prieft, 
great  Prophet,  and  Bifhop  of  Souls,  our 
Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  being  preildent  among 
them. 

An  apprehenlion  that  I  mould  be  called 
to  the  miniftry,  and  a  concern  on  that  ac- 
count, had  been  at  times  for  feveral  years 
weightily  on  my  mind;  but  I  now  again 
thought  I  was  mifbken  in  that  belief,  and 
that  it  was  only  a  preparative  to  qualify  me 
for  the  ftation  of  an  elder,  and  thereby  my 
exercife  became  fomewhat  lighter  for  a  time. 
The  tendernefs  and  love  I  felt  to  thofe  en- 
gaged in  publick  miniftry  was  very  great, 
and  I  believe  I  was  made  helpful  to  fome, 

by 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      25 

by  giving  private  hints,  when  and  to  whom 
1  thought  there  was  occaiion,  in  plainnefs, 
fimplicity,  and  fear,  which  often  afforded 
inftrudion  to  myfelf,  as  well  as  to  them. 

In  1733  I  accompanied  friends  on  another 
vifit  to  families,  wherein,  at  times,  I  felt 
the  opening  of  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  and 
a  few  words  to  fpeak  to  the  ftates  of  fome ; 
though  in  great  fear,  left  I  fhould  put  my 
hand  to  that  weighty  work  without  the  real 
requiring  of  duty:  and  at  one  family,  on  a 
morning  pretty  early,  being  the  firft  we  went 
to  on  that  day,  I  thought  it  would  be  better 
for  the  whole  family,  in  a  religious  fenfe,  if 
the  heads  of  it  were  more  zealous  in  attend- 
ing meetings.  I  faw  the  neceifity  of  being 
examples  to  children  and  fervants,  by  a  care- 
ful attendance  of  meetings  for  worfhip  on 
the  firft  and  other  days  of  the  week,  but  I 
was  fo  weak  and  poor,  that  I  doubted  whe- 
ther it  was  my  duty  to  mention  any  thing 
thereof  to  them,  fo  concluded  to  omit  it; 
by  which  I  hoped  to  judge  of  what  I  had 
been  about  before,  and  fo  grew  eafy  in  my 
mind :  and  as  we  were  on  the  way  to  the 
next  houfe,  I  began  to  judge,  that  I  had  no 
real  bufinefs  to  have  faid  any  thing  at  any 
houfe;  and  having  forborne  in  my  own  will, 
I  was  now  left  to  my  own  judgment  for  a 
time.  At  the  next  houfe  friends  were  parti- 
cularly opened,  and  tenderly  concerned  to 
fpeak  to  feveral  ftates,  and  of  feveral  matters 
which  I  thought  inftru&ive ;  but  I  fat  dry 

and 


26      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

and  poor,  and  fo  remained  during  our  paf- 
fage  to  the  next  houfe,  where  I  fared  no 
better,  but  worfe,  my  feeling  and  judgment 
being  quite  gone,  as  to  the  fervice  in  which 
we  were  engaged ;  and  though  I  did  not  fay 
any  thing  to  the  other  friends  how  it  fared 
with  me,  yet  they  were  affedted  therewith,  as 
I  apprehended.  I  was  in  great  darknefs  and 
diitrefs,  and  fometimes  thought  of  leaving 
the  company  privately,  and  go  home  j  but 
again  concluded  that  would  not  only  be  a 
difappointment  to  my  friends,  but  difho- 
nourable  to  truth,  which  made  me  determine 
to  go  forward,  and  endure  my  own  pain,  as 
much  undifcovered  as  poilible.  My  compa- 
nions, as  I  before  obferved,  were  affected, 
and  all,  fave  one,  feemed  clofed  up  from  doing 
the  fervice,  and  in  the  evening  of  the  fame 
day,  at  the  laft  houfe,  all  of  them  werefilent. 
There  was  a  fchool-houfe  near,  the  mafler 
being  a  friend,  and  the  children  moftly  be- 
longing to  friends,  whom  fome  of  our  com- 
pany appeared  willing  to  vifit,  but  others 
being  doubtful,  we  omitted  it;  which  now 
fome  thought  was  not  right,  and  that  therefore 
this  cloud  of  darknefs  and  diftrefs  came  up- 
on us,  and  we  were  willing  to  meet  at  the 
fchool-houfe  next  morning,  to  try  if  we 
could  recover  our  former  ftrength  in  the 
ownings  of  truth ;  which  being  agreed  to, 
each  took  his  way  home.  It  being  now 
night,  and  I  alone,  I  rode  flow,  under  a  deep 
cxercife  of  mind  and  humble  inquiry  into 

the 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      27 

the  caufe  of  my  own  diftrefs;  and  after  fome 
time,  being  favoured  with  great  calmnefs 
and  quietude  of  niind,  I  was  inwardly  in- 
Itru6ted  after  this  manner :  '  Thou  faweft 
'  what  was  wanting  in  a  family  this  morn- 
'  ing,  and  would  not  exhort  to  more  dili- 
'  gence  or  amendment  in  that  refpect,  and 
*  therefore  if  they  continue  to  do  wrong,  it 
'  lhall  be  required  of  thee;'  on  which  I 
became  broken  in  fpirit,  and  cried  in  fecret, 
May  I  not  perform  it  yet,  and  be  restored 
to  thy  favour  ?  O  Lord !  I  am  now  willing 
to  do  whatfoever  thou  requireft  of  me,  if 
thou  wilt  be  pleafed  to  be-with  me.  And, 
bleffed  be  his  name !  in  mercy  he  heard  my 
fupplication,  and  I  was  fully  perfuaded  that 
I  muft  go  to  the  houfe  again,  which  I  con- 
cluded to  do  next  morning,  and  went  home 
with  a  degree  of  comfort,  and,  being  weary 
in  body  and  mind,  flept  fweetly,  and  awoke 
in  the  morning  quiet  and  eafy  in  fpirit ;  and 
now  began  to  conclude,  that  I  might  meet 
my  company  and  be  excufed  \  but  my  cove- 
nant of  going  was  brought  to  my  remem- 
brance, and  I  was  given  to  believe  that  peace 
was  reftored  on  condition  of  my  perform- 
ance ;  therefore  I  went  to  the  houfe,  though 
feveral  miles  diftant,  before  fun-rife.  The 
man  of  the  houfe  was  up  ;  he  invited  me  in, 
and  I  followed  him,  and  fitting  down  by  the 
fire  (being  cool  weather)  with  my  mind  re- 
tired, I  felt  that  I  muft  not  fpeak  before  the 
reft  of  the  family,  but  rather  in  private, 

yet 


28      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

yet  was  fearful  of  calling  him  out,  being 
unwilling  to  difcover  any  thing  to  them. 
In  the  mean  time  he  went  out,  and  walked 
the  way  I  was  to  go  j  I  followed,  and  told 
him  how  I  felt  when  we  were  at  his  houfe 
the  morning  before,  and  could  not  be  eafy 
without  exhorting  him  to  be  more  careful 
in  feveral  refpefts,  and  a  better  example  to 
his  family  in  his  attendance  of  meetings;  he 
feemed  affected,  and  faid  he  hoped  he  mould 
mind  my  advice.  I  then  left  him,  and  met 
my  companions  at  the  fchool-houfe,  and  en- 
joyed great  peace.  I  leave  this  remark  to 
excite  all  to  dwell  in  meeknefs  and  fear,  and 
to  beware  of  the  will  of  the  creature,  and  the 
reafonings  of  flefh  and  blood,  which  lead  in- 
to doubting  and  difobedience.  They  who 
are  faithful  in  fmall  things,  mall  truly  know 
an  increafe  in  that  wifdom  and  knowledge 
which  is  from  above. 

Before  we  had  gone  through  this  vifit  I 
attended  the  quarterly-meeting  of  minifters 
and  elders  at  Concord,  and  as  I  fat  therein, 
the  unwearied  adverfary  renewed  a  former 
charge  againfl  me,  by  fuggefling  to  my  mind 
that  I  might  know  I  had  been  wrong,  and 
under  a  delufion,  in  entertaining  a  belief 
that  I  mould  be  called  to  the  work  of  the 
miniftry;  for  that  all  who  had  ever  been 
rightly  engaged  therein,  it  was  in  acrofs  greatly 
to  the  will  of  the  creature,  which  was  not 
my  cafe,  for  I  was  willing.  This  I  felt  to 
be  true,  and  was  therefore  now  exceedingly 

dif- 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     29 

diflreffed,  not  confidering  that  I  was  made 
willing  by  the  weight  of  the  exercife,  which 
had  been  feveral  years  at  times  very  heavy 
upon  me,  until  it  feemed  as  a  fire  in  my 
bones,  and  as  though  "  I  was  dumb  with 
"  filence,  I  held  my  peace,  even  from  good; 
"  and  my  forrow  was  flirred ;  my  heart 
"  was  hot  within  , me;  while  I  was  mufing, 
"  the  fire  burned,"  Pfal.  xxxix.  2,  3.  While 
under  this  conflict,  a  friend  flood  up  with 
thefe  words :  "  Alfo  I  heard  the  voice  of 
"  the  Lord,  faying,  whom  (hall  I  fend,  and 
"  who  will  go  for  us  ?  Then  faid  I,  here 
"  am  I,  fend  me,"  Ifa.  vi.  8.  fhewing, 
that  '  to  them  whofe  will  was  rightly  fub- 
jedted  to  the  Lord,  it  became  their  meat 
and  drink  to  do  the  will  of  him  who  had 
fubjected  them  by  his  divine  power,  and 
influenced  their  hearts  with  his  love  to 
mankind :'  by  which  I  was  relieved,  and 
my  fpirit  humbled  and  made  thankful.  Next 
morning,  being  the  firfl  day  of  the  week,  I 
went  to  Kennet  meeting,  and  toward  the 
clofe  thereof  fomething  appeared  to  my  mind 
to  offer,  but  was  fearful  that  fjie  motion  for 
fpeaking  was  not  enough  powerful,  and  had 
like  to  have  forborne,  but  remembering  what 
I  had  fuflfered  by  neglecting  a  weak  motion 
in  a  family  vifit,  as  already  related,  I  flood 
up,  and  fpake  a  few  fentences  in  great  fear 
and  brokennefs  of  fpirit,  and  had  folid  fatif- 
faction.  I  attended  the  quarterly  -  meeting 
of  bufinefs  at  Concord  on  fecond  day,  on 

my 


30      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

my  return  from  whence  I  let  in  the  old 
reafoner,  who  fuggefted  to  me,  that  if  I  was 
called  to  the  publick  miniftry,  I  had  not 
waited  for  a  fufficient  commiffion  to  fpeak ; 
for  fome  had  been  railed  up  with  great 
power  and  authority  they  could  not  with- 
ftand,  hut  that  I  might  have  been  ftill  and 
quiet,  the  motion  was  fo  gentle  and  low ; 
and  that  I  muft  not  think  to  fpeak  in  pub- 
lick  testimony  in  great  meetings  with  fo 
fmall  a  motion,  and  in  fo  doing  I  had  com- 
mitted a  fin  that  would  not  be  readily  for- 
given, perhaps  a  fin  againft  the  Holy  Ghoft. 
My  exercife  was  great,  but  as  I  endeavoured 
to  be  quiet  in  my  mind,  feeking  to  know 
the  truth  of  my  prefent  condition,  I  was 
fecretly  drawn  to  follow  and  attend  to  fome- 
thing  that  fpoke  inwardly,  after  this  man- 
ner, '  If  thou  wail  to  take  a  lad,  an  entire 
'  ftranger  to  thy  language  and  buiinefs,  how- 
'  ever  likely  he  appeared  for  fervice,  thou 
'  muft  fpeak  loud  and  diftinctly  to  him,  and 
'  perhaps  with  an  accent  or  tone  that  might 

*  mew  thee  to  be  in  earnefl,  to  engage  his 
'  attention,  and  point  out  the  bufinefs ;  but 

*  thou  wouldft  expect  it  mould  be  otherwife 

*  with  a  child   brought  up  in  thine  houfe, 
'  who  knew  thy  language,  and  with  whom 
'  thou   hadft   been   familiar:    thou    wouldft 
'  expect   him    to  wait    by  thee,    and  watch 
'  thy  motions,  fo  as  to  be  inftructed  by  thine 
'  eye  looking  upon  him,  or  pointing  thy  fin- 

*  ger,  and  wouldft  rebuke  or  correct  fuch  an 

'  one 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN*.     31 

e  one,  if  he  did  not^obey  thy  will  on  fuch  a 
'  fmall  intelligent  information.'  I  was  in- 
itantly  relieved  thereby,  and  leave  my  rea- 
der to  judge  from  whence  this  intimation 
came,  believing  it  would  be  no  crime  in  me 
to  judge  it  to  be  from  the  Spirit  of  Truth, 
that  was  to  lead  and  guide  into  all  Truth. 

When  this  meeting  was  over,  being  in  the 
ninth  month,  1733,  we  proceeded  to  fmifli 
our  family  viiit.  The  part  which  remained 
was  on  the  weft  fide  of  Sufquehanna,  at 
Bum  river,  and  a  few  families  begun  to  fet- 
tle near  Deer- creek.  We  were  remarkably  fa- 
voured with  the  prefence  of  our  great  and 
good  Mafter,  who  opened  the  ftates  of  fa- 
milies to  us,  and  gave  ability  to  fpeak  there- 
to :  may  his  his  holy  name  be  praifed !  The 
vifit  being  finiihed,  we  returned  home ;  and 
in  a  Ihort  time  after,  as  I  fat  in  a  week  day 
meeting,  I  had  a  few  words  frefh  before  me, 
with  a  gentle  motion  to  deliver  them,  which 
I  feared  to  omit,  ftill  remembering  what  fol- 
lowed a  former  negledt ;  fo  I  exprefled  what 
was  on  my  mind,  and  therein  had  peace, 
and  afterwards  was  filent  for  feveral  weeks, 
in  which  time  I  let  in  a  fear  I  was  forfaken 
by  my  dear  Lord  and  Mafter,  whom  I  loved 
above  all  things.  For  I  had  no  openings  in 
heavenly  things,  as  I  thought,  but  was  left 
poor  and  needy;  yet  I  loved  friends,  and, 
remembering  a  faying  of  a  minifter  formerly, 
"  We  know  that  we  are  pafTed  from  death 
"  unto  life,  becaufe  we  love  the  brethren," 

i  John 


32      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

i  John  iii.  14.  I  hoped  that  I  was  not  quite 
forgotten.  Some  remarkable  fentences  had 
fixed  in  my  mind  fometime  before,  which  I 
now  began  to  underftand  more  fenfibly.  '  Mi- 

*  niflry  mould  be  of  neceffity,  and  not  of 

*  choice,  and  there  is  no  living  by  filence, 

*  or  by  preaching  merely.'     For  fomething 
in   me  was   ready   to  wifh  to  be  employed, 
that  I  might  have  bread;  for  when  I  found 
a  motion  to  fpeak  I  had  the  owning  love  of 
the  heavenly  Father,  which  is  and  ever  will 
be  bread  to  his  children.      The  creaturely 
will  would  choofe,  and  would  be  bufy  with 
queftioning,  Is  it  not,  or  may  it  not  be  fo 
and  fo  ?  This  is  that  womanifh  part,  which 
is  not  permitted  to  fpeak  in  the  church  :  it 
runs   firft   into    tranfgreffion,     for    want   of 
learning  of  the  hufband.  at  home,  or  being 
in  fubjection  to  him  j  which  if  Eve  had  li- 
terally done,  inftead  of  reafoning  with   the 
ferpent  that  tempted,  me  might  have  been 
preferved  from  being  a  tempter.  Our  flrength, 
prefervation,  health,  and  peace,  ftand  in  our 
entire  fubjection   to  the   will  of  the  Lord, 
whether  in  filence  or  fpeaking,  fufFering  or 
reigning,  ftill  dwelling  with  the  feed  (Chrift) 
in  our  own  hearts,  humbly  waiting  for  and 
feeling  after  his  power  to  arife,  who  is  the 
Refurreclion  and  the  Life,  and  when  he  is 
pleafed    to  appear,   his  children   partake  in 
meafure  of  his  glory. 

I  continued  in  the  flation  of  an  elder,  and 
fometimes  delivered  a  few  fentences  in  pub- 
lick 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      33 

lick  teftimony,  which  occafioned  me  to  ap- 
prehend that  I  mould  not  be  in  my  proper 
place,  except  I  requeued  to  be  released  from 
my  elderfhip.  After  a  time  of  weighty  con- 
fideration,  I  modeftly  requefted  that  friends 
would  confider  my  cafe ;  for  inftead  of  tak- 
ing care  of  the  miniftry  of  others,  I  ftood 
in  need  of  the  care  of  others,  and  that  it 
would  be  relieving  to  my  mind,  if  they  would 
nominate  an  elder  in  my  room;  which  was 
taken  into  confideration  for  a  time,  friends 
waiting,  I  fuppofe,  to  fee  what  proof  I  fhould 
make  of  my  miniftry.  I  attended  the  win- 
ter quarterly-meeting  of  minifters  and  elders, 
and  had  to  give  an  account  of  the  miniflry 
at  our  meeting.  The  elders  being  called  to 
anfwer  one  after  another  in  order,  according 
to  the  fettlement  of  the  meetings  they  be- 
longed to,  a  fear  ftruck  me  left  a  form  of 
words  was  too  much  in  general  obferved, 
particularly,  '  that  the  miniftry  was  well  re- 
'  ceived.'  When  my  turn  came,  I  could  not 
be  eafy  without  varying  that  part,  and  inftead 
of  faying  '  the  miniflry  of  the  minifters  is 
well  received,'  I  faid  that  I  believed  the  mi- 
niftry of  the  publick  friends  was  generally 
approved  of;  and  added,  that  I  did  wifh  that 
the  miniftry  of  all  the  miniftring  friends 
was  better  received  than  I  conceived  it  was. 
Whereupon  I  was  afked  what  I  meant ;  and, 
under  the  weight  I  felt  on  my  mind,  I  re- 
plied it  was  not  from  a  thought  of  bearing 
hard  on  the  fervice  of  the  publick  friends, 
D  but 


34     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

but  from  the  difference  of  approving  there- 
of, becaufe  they  believed  it  to  be  right,  and 
attending  no  further,  which  would  not  do 
the  work;  but  to  put  in  practice  what  they 
heard  recommended,  was  only  well  receiving 
of  it,  and  if  that  was  really  the  cafe,  our 
fociety  would  appear  more  beautiful  than  at 
prefent.  Thus  the  matter  clofed,  and  I  had 
peace  in  the  remark.  I  think  this  was  the 
laft  meeting  I  attended  as  an  elder :  before 
the  next  quarterly-meeting  in  the  fecond 
month,  1734,  another  was  recommended  in 
my  place. 

About  this  time,  as  I  fat  in  one  of  our 
own  meetings,  I  felt  a  flow  of  affeclion  to 
the  people;  for  many  not  of  our  fociety 
came  there,  perhaps  out  of  curiofity,  feveral 
young  ministers  having  come  forth  in  pub- 
lick  teftimony.  In  which  extraordinary  flow 
of  affection  I  had  a  very  bright  opening,  as 
I  thought,  and  expected  to  ftand  up  with  it 
very  foon,  but  being  willing  to  weigh  it 
carefully  was  not  very  forward,  viewing  its 
decreafing  brightnefs,  until  fomething  faid, 
as  it  were  within  me,  *  Is  the  woe  in  it  ?  is 
'  neceffity  laid  upon  thee?  i  Cor.  ix.  16.  and 
therefore  woe  if  thou  preach  not  the  gofpel  ?* 
This  put  me  to  a  ftand,  and  made  me  feel 
after  the  living  prefence  of  him,  in  whofe 
name  and  power  I  defired  to  fpeak,  if  I  ap- 
peared in  teftimony;  and  not  feeling  the 
pure  life  and  power  of  truth,  fo  as  to  ftand 
up,  the  brightn,efs  of  the  viiion  faded,  and 

left 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      35 

left  me  quiet,  humble,  and  thankful  for 
this  prefervation.  The  drawing  ftrength  and 
lufting  deiire  of  the  unftable,  who  centre 
not  to  the  pure  gift  in  themfelves,  are  as  the 
many  waters,  or  fea  of  myftery  Babylon, 
for  her  merchants  to  fail  their  mips  and 
trade  upon.  This  was  a  time  of  inward 
growing  to  me,  the  welfare  of  the  churches 
was  ftrongly  defired,  and  the  extendings  of 
the  love  of  the  Heavenly  Father  I  felt  at 
times  to  reach  over  fea  and  land,  to  my  great 
admiration ;  but  however  my  heart  was  en- 
larged, I  believed  it  was  my  duty  to  retire 
inward,  and  wait  with  patience  until  my 
friends  mould  fo  approve  of  my  miniftry, 
as  to  recommend  me  as  a  minifter,  before  I 
made  any  requeft  to  go  much  abroad ;  though 
I  went  to  fome  neighbouring  meetings,  fuch 
as  I  could  go  to  in  a  morning,  and  return 
home  at  night,  but  not  without  acquainting 
fome  elderly  friends  therewith,  and  defiring 
their  company,  which  I  generally  had. 

In  the  winter  1735-6,  William  Brown, 
my  brother-in-law,  my  fifter,  Dinah  Brown, 
(then  a  widow)  and  myfelf,  were  all  recom- 
mended to  the  meeting  of  minifters  and  el- 
ders as  minifters,  and  at  this  meeting  I  let 
a  certain  friend  know  that  for  fome  time  I 
had  a  defire  to  vifit  friends  at  Newtown, 
Middletown,  Gofhen,  Cain,  and  Bradford 
meetings,  hoping  that  he  would  go  with 
me;  for  without  fome  fuitable  companion  1 
was  not  eafy  to  go,  becaufe  it  would  be  ne- 
D  2  ceflary 


36     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

cefTary  that  notice  mould  be  given,  to  anfwer 
the  end  of  a  viiit;  which  he  alfo  thought 
necefTary,  and  let  me  know  that  he  would 
take  the  needful  care,  which  I  fuppofed  was 
previoufly  to  inform  fome  friends  of  each 
meeting,  in  order  that  they  might  acquaint 
their  neighbours,  if  they  had  freedom,  and 
I  was  eafy,  not;  knowing  but  he  would  bear 
me  company.  On  third  day  I  was  at  the 
general  meeting  of  worfhip  held  at  Provi- 
dence, and  at  the  breaking  up  thereof,  the 
friend  whom  I  had  fpoken  to  flood  up,  and 
gave  public  notice  that  I  intended  to  fit  with 
friends  at  the  meetings  aforefaid,  and  named 
the  days  in  order,  and  requefted  friends 
would  take  proper  care -to  give  notice;  at 
which  I  was  exceedingly  furprized,  and  re- 
pented that  I  had  fpoken  thereof.  I  would 
have  gladly  ran  home,  but  for  fear  of  bring- 
ing a  reproach,  and  to  me  it  feemed  likely  it 
would  be  the  cafe  if  I  purfued  the  trad; 
laid  out  for  me :  in  this  ftrait  I  was  hum- 
bled, even  to  weeping.  A  fympathizing  ex- 
perienced friend  came  to  me,  and  fpake  af- 
fectionately, bidding  me  not  to  be  caft  down, 
for  it  was  heard  with  gladnefs  that  it  was  in 
my  heart  to  vifit  thofe  meetings ;  and  that  if  I 
lived,  and  did  well,  I  muft  meet  with  greater 
trials.  I  fuppofe  friends  of  thofe  meetings 
knew  more  of  me  than  I  expected,  for  I  had 
carefully  attended  meetings  of  difcipline  fe- 
veral  years,  and  had  been  fometimes  active 
therein  :  the  meetings  were  generally  pretty 

full 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      37 

full,  and  I  believe  truth  owned  my  fervice. 
In  this  little  journey  friends  were  very  kind 
to  me,  and  I  was  afraid  too  free  in  manifert- 
ing  of  it.  Indeed  there  are  many  indulgent 
nurfes,  many  forward  inftructors,  but  too 
few  fathers  in  the  church;  who,  having 
been  acquainted  with  him  the  Great  Alpha 
in  their  tender  beginning,  and  by  dwelling 
in  his  holy  counfel  and  fear,  have  the  care 
of  the  members  at  heart,  and  in  the  wifdom 
of  truth  know  how  to  inftrucl:,  advife,  and 
conduct  themfelves  towards  fuch  who  are 
called  to  the  Lord's  work,  according  to  their 
fcveral  difpofitions,  growths,  and  gifts  re- 
ceived ;  in  order  that  they  might  be  preferved 
growing  in  and  by  him,  the  Alpha,  expe- 
riencing him,  their  beginning,  to  be  with 
them,  and  to  be  the  Omega  in  their  conclu- 
ilon ;  the  Firfl  and  the  Laft,  all  in  all,  the 
Lord  God  over  all,  blefTed  in  himfelf  and 
the  Son  of  his  love,  our  holy  High  Pried 
and  Instructor.  For  want  of  proper  caution 
herein  fome  have  valued  themfelves  above 
what  they  ought,  and  thereby  reduced  their 
credit  with  others. 

In  the  fummer  following  I  felt  a  fecret 
gentle  draft  to  vifit  the  meetings  in  the  back 
parts  of  Chefter,  Philadelphia  and  Bucks 
counties;  which  continuing  with  me,  and 
my  brother-in-law  William  Brown  having 
the  like  concern,  we  acquainted  friends  at 
our  monthly-meeting,  late  in  the  fall  of  the 
year,  and  had  their  concurrence,  and  I  be- 
D  3  lieve 


38     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

lieve  their  good  wimes  for  us.  So  in  the 
tenth  month,  1736,  we  proceeded,  and  went 
to  Gofhen,  Radnor,  and  to  a  general  meet- 
ing at  Haverford,  and  to  an  evening  meeting 
at  a  fchool-houfe  in  Upper  Merion,  and  over 
Schuylkill  to  Plymouth :  we  had  good  fatif- 
faction  moftly.  I  could  fee  that  my  brother 
grew  in  his  gift ;  and  after  one  of  the  meet- 
ings, a  well-meaning  friend  told  me  that  I 
was  a  feer,  and  knew  the  ftates  of  people 
better  than  they  could  inform  me,  at  which 
I  felt  fome  fecret  pleafure,  yet  not  without 
(as  I  thought)  an  humble  fear,  knowing 
that  flattery  or  unguarded  commendation,  if 
liftened  to,  is  a  kind  of  poifon  to  young 
minifters,  and  fometimes  makes  them  fwell 
beyond  the  proper  fize.  At  Plymouth  I  had 
an  open  meeting,  and  it  feemed  to  me  as  if 
what  I  had  to  fay  was  received  freely  by  the 
people,  and  after  meeting  I  was  filled  with 
joy  to  fuch  a  degree  that  I  wept,  and  dropped 
behind  my  company  (to  keep  undifcovered) 
in  our  going  to  a  friend's  houfe;  inwardly 
praying  that  it  might  be  taken  from  me,  for 
I  feared  that,  by  the  natural  part  in  me,  it 
was  taken  to  excefs.  Next  day  we  had  a 
fmall  meeting  in  Job  Pugh's  houfe,  where  I 
thought  I  faw  the  ftates  of  particulars  very 
clear,  and  had  fomething  to  fay,  which  per- 
haps I  delivered  in  too  ftrong  terms,  confi- 
dering  my  age  and  experience  in  the  mi- 
niftry :  a  becoming  fear  and  modefty  in  ex- 
preffion  is  very  ornamental  and  fafe  for  mi- 
tt ifters, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      39 

nifters,  both  young  and  old.  After  meeting 
we  went  home  with  Edward  Evans  to  North 
Wales,  who  converfed  but  little  with  us, 
but  was  grave  and  folid,  and  therein  a  good 
example  to  mej  for  fometimes  young  minif- 
ters  hurt  themfelves  by  too  much  talking, 
and  draw  from  others  of  like  freedom  things 
not  convenient  for  them  to  hear.  The  next 
day  we  were  at  North  Wales  meeting,  which 
was  large,  being  firft  day.  My  brother  Wil- 
liam Brown  appeared  in  the  fore  part,  and 
had  good  fervice;  afterwards  I  ftood  up,  with 
a  large  and  good  opening  as  I  thought,  but 
found  hard  work,  and  fat  down  again  with- 
out much  relief,  which  being  a  little  unu- 
fual,  I  ventured  to  ftand  up  again,  and,  with 
a  zeal  that  exceeded  my  childifh  knowledge, 
laid  on  fome  ftrokes  with  the  ftrength  of 
the  man's  part  more  than  with  the  hum- 
bling power  of  truth  :  for  if  we  deliver 
hard  things  to  the  people,  we  mould  ever  re- 
member that  we  are  flefh  and  blood,  and  by 
nature  fubjed:  to  the  fame  frailties.  This 
would  lead  us  clofely  to  attend  to  the  pow- 
er, and  to  minifter  only  in  the  ability  of 
truth,  in  the  meeknefs,  gentlenefs,  and  wif- 
dom  which  it  infpires.  I  foon  fat  down 
again,  and  in  a  moment  felt  myfelf  left  in 
great  darknefs,  and  friends  broke  up  the 
meeting  in  a  minute  or  two  after,  which  I 
foon  thought  was  rather  unkind,  as  it  feemed 
to  (hew  a  publick  diflike,  when  a  private  ad- 
monition, which  I  believed  was  my  due, 
D  4  would 


4o     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

would  have  anfwered  the  end  better.  But 
when  I  knew  they  held  an  afternoon  meet- 
ing, I  judged  I  had  infringed  on  the  time, 
and  the  weight  of  the  trial  fettled  ftill  deeper 
on  my  mind.  In  the  afternoon  I  fat  lilent, 
and  was  very  much  dejected,  and  my  good 
friend  Evan  Evans,  an  experienced  minifter 
and  father  in  the  church,  bid  me  be  fteady 
and  inward,  looking  to  the  Lord,  who 
knew  how  to  deal  with  his  children,  and 
gently  correct,  as  well  when  they  went  too 
faft  as  too  flow.  This  fatherly  tender  hint 
fully  opened  my  eyes;  for  before  I  was  in 
fome  doubt  wherein  I  had  miffed :  I  now  be- 
lieved he  faw  I  was  too  zealous  and  for- 
ward, and  believed  alfo  that  he  had  judg- 
ment of  truth,  this  was  enough  for  me ;  I 
abhorred  myfelf,  and  was  in  great  fear  that 
I  mould  not  be  forgiven.  Another  friend 
told  me,  that  I  only  felt  an  oppofmg  fpirit  in 
fome,  whole  ftates  had  been  remarkably  fpo- 
ken  to  by  me,  and  defired  me  not  to  be  too 
much  caft  down,  for  I  had  the  mind  of 
truth.  This,  inftead  of  relieving,  rather 
added  to  my  affliction ;  for  I  faw  it  would 
have  a  tendency,  if  heeded,  to  take  me  from 
under  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  which  was 
heavy  upon  me ;  and  fomething  in  me  faid, 

*  Let  God   be  true,  and  every  man  a  liar ;' 
'  keep  to  the  witnefs  in  thine  own  heart ; 
'  attend  to  the  Spirit  of  Truth  there,  and 

*  mind  its  reproof.'     Man,  through  natural 
affection  and  fympathy,  may  err,  and  admi- 

nifter 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     41 

nifter  falfe  inftruftion,  but  the  other  pro- 
ceeds from  the  God  of  Truth.  I  would 
have  given  all  that  I  had  to  have  been  at 
home;  for  I  greatly  feared  that  I  fhould 
bring  a  reproach  on  the  truth,  the  honour 
whereof  was  dear  to  me.  I  hid  my  diftrefs 
as  much  as  poffible,  and  proceeded  to  attend 
meetings  with  my  brother,  whom  I  greatly 
preferred,  and  was  afraid  to  difcourage  by 
my  complaints. 

We  were  at  a  meeting  at  Skippack,  and 
at  another  at  Perkioming  or  New  Providence, 
in  each  whereof  I  had  fo  much  light  and 
underftanding  as  to  offer  a  few  words,  but 
the  fervice  lay  chiefly  on  my  brother.  From 
thence  we  went  to  Oley,  where  I  had  a  few 
things  to  deliver  in  a  friend's  houfe  in  an 
evening,  fitting  with  his  family,  which  was 
large.  The  friend  in  great  tendernefs  ob- 
ferved  afterward,  that  revelation  was  not 
ceafed,  for  their  ftates  were  very  exactly 
fpoken  to;  at  which  I  marvelled,  for  I  was 
greatly  reduced,  and  thought  myfelf  one  of 
the  pooreft  and  mofl  unqualified  that  ever 
travelled  in  that  great  fervice  in  whicli  we 
were  now  engaged.  This  difpenfation,  though 
forrowful  to  wade  through,  was  very  hum- 
bling and  profitable  to  me,  who  perhaps 
but  a  little  before  was  ready  to  think  I  knew 
fomething  about  preaching,  but  now  knew 
nothing,  that  I  might  more  fully  underftand 
that  he  who  thinketh  of  himfelf  "  he  know- 
"  eth  any  thing,  knoweth  nothing  as  he 

"  ought 


42      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

"  ought  to  know;"  to  wit,  that  all  pure 
knowledge  is  fealed  up  in  him  who  is  the 
Fountain  of  Wifdom  and  Knowledge,  to  be 
only  opened  by  himfelf  to  his  dependant 
children,  by  the  revelation  of  his  own  Spi- 
rit, when  and  to  whom  he  pleafes. 

From  hence  we  went  to  Maiden  Creek, 
and  to  Richland  in  Bucks  county,  being  Hill 
low  in  my  mind,  yet  favoured  for  a  few  mi- 
nutes in  meetings,  in  which  I  had  a  few 
fentences,  and  then  was  clofed  up  again.  I 
was  like  one  who  having  learned  a  few  things 
or  rules  in  literal  knowledge,  was  again 
turned  back  again  to  his  beginning. 

From  thence  we  went  to  Plumftead  in 
Bucks  county,  (here  I  was  rather  more  en- 
larged) and  to  Buckingham,  Wrightftown, 
Falls,  Middletown,  Briftol,  and  over  on  the 
ice  to  Burlington  in  New  Jerfey,  the  wea- 
ther being  exceeding  cold,  and  came  back 
again  on  the  ice  over  Delaware  the  fame 
evening  to  Briftol,  and  thence  proceeded  to 
Byberry  and  Hormam  meetings  -,  and  by  this 
time  I  was  relieved  from  the  depreffion  of 
fpirit  I  felt  before,  yet  was  under  an  hum- 
ble reverent  fear,  not  forgetting  the  meeting  at 
North  Wales :  I  was  in  fome  degree  again  ad- 
mitted to  behold  the  lifting  up  of  the  Heavenly 
Father's  countenance,  which  makes  the  fo- 
litary  rejoice.  From  Hormam  we  went  to  a 
meeting  appointed  at  William  Hallowell's. 
The  company  of  the  man  who  undertook  to 
mew  us  the  way  not  being  agreeable,  we 

perfuaded 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     43 

perfuaded  him  to  return,  and  fo  were  left, 
not  knowing  the  way  to  the  houfe,  which 
made  me  very  thoughtful,  left  we  mould 
mifs  our  way,  and  friends  would  then  be 
blamed  for  neglecl:  of  duty  towards  us.  As 
I  was  thus  pondering  in  my  mind  a  faith 
arofe  that  Providence  could  direct,  and  that 
moment  I  beheld  the  track  of  a  man  who 
had  croffed  the  road  we  were  in,  and  felt  a 
fudden  turn  of  mind  to  follow  the  fame, 
which  made  me  quite  eafy.  It  brought  us 
to  a  field,  where  we  found  the  fence  down 
on  both  fides,  and  led  to  the  houfe  where 
friends  were  gathered,  and  we  were  not  dif- 
covered  to  be  without  a  guide ;  for  which  I 
was  thankful,  believing  it  to  be  the  fecret 
direction  of  kind  Providence,  and  not  barely 
chance.  I  relate  this  with  a  view  to  excite 
fuch  as  may  meet  with  difficulties  to  rely  on 
him  alone  who  can  mew  the  way,  and  give 
faith  to  follow  5  but  man  muft  be  humble 
and  quiet  in  mind,  to  underftand  the  inward 
gentle  fenfe  that  truth  favours  with.  This 
fmall  gathering  was  owned  in  a  good  degree 
with  the  Divine  prefence. 

From  thence  we  pafled  to  Abington  and 
Frankfort  meetings,  and  to  Philadelphia;  and 
after  vifiting  of  thofe  meetings  we  turned  to 
Germantown,  and  fo  over  Schuylkill  to  Me- 
rion  meeting,  where  we  met  our  worthy 
friend  John  Fothergill,  who  had  great  and 
good  fervice  therein,  with  whom  my  bro- 
ther William  Brown  returned  to  Philadel- 
phia, 


44     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

phia,  to  the  quarterly-meeting,  which  began 
next  day  ;  and  while  he  was  abfent  from  me, 
I  attended  Springfield  and  Newtown  meet- 
ings, when  he  again  came  to  me.  We  at- 
tended fome  other  meetings  until  our  quar- 
terly-meeting began,  at  which  was  our 
friend  John  Cadwalader  from  Hormam,  who 
had  good  fervice.  After  which  I  returned 
home,  and  was  glad  to  fit  with  friends  in 
our  own  meeting,  wherein  I  did  not  fee  it 
was  my  place  to  fay  much,  but  by  example 
to  recommend  filence. 

Early  this  fpring  (1737)  the  Lord  was 
pleafed  to  try  me  with  poverty  and  inward 
want,  which  brought  me  into  great  fearch- 
ings  of  heart,  and  fecret  enquiry  into  the 
caufe;  but  I  could  not  underftand  that  I  had 
wilfully  difobeyed,  neither  flood  convicted 
in  my  mind  for  doing  amifs ;  but  my  po- 
verty and  inward  want  increafed,  with  dif- 
trefs  and  doubting  to  that  degree,  that  I  be- 
gan to  fear  I  had  miftaken,  and  took  error 
for  truth,  and  in  my  own  imagination  formed 
a  religion,  and  for  the  rebellion  of  my  youth 
was  fuffered  to  go  on  until  now;  and  all 
that  ever  I  had  done  was  brought  into  judg- 
ment and  reduced  to  nothing;  and  the  ene- 
my endeavoured  to  flir  me  up  to  impatience, 
and  to  perfuade  me  that  my  tranfgreffions 
would  never  be  forgiven.  Many  days  of 
forrow  and  nights  of  fore  diftrefs  I  paffed 
through,  and  began  to  defpair  of  ever  be- 
holding 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     45 

holding  the  light  of  the  Heavenly  counte- 
nance lifted  up  towards  me  again. 

Towards  the  laft  of  the  third  month  I 
went  to  Sadfbury,  to  fettle  a  difpute  about 
the  bounds  of  land ;  and  having  fomething 
to  do  near  Samuel  Nutt's  iron  works  on 
French  Creek,  as  I  was  going  thither,  being 
alone,  and  my  inward  forrow  and  diftrefs 
very  great,  I  thought  I  would  now  endea- 
vour to  vent  it,  were  it  but  in  mournful 
groans;  and  drawing  in  my  breath,  in  order 
to  vent  it  in  a  groan,  my  inward  anguifh 
feemed  to  burn  like  fire,  and  I  was  inftantly 
ftaid  from  breaking  forth;  for  I  was  per- 
fuaded  my  paflion  of  grief,  if  given  way 
unto,  would  go  beyond  bounds,  to  the  tear- 
ing of  my  cloaths,  if  no  further :  my  heart 
not  being  tender,  I  could  not  weep,  which 
brought  me  to  a  more  calm  paufe  than  I  had 
known  for  fome  time,  and  therein  was  ready 
to  fay,  Can  the  good  hand  be  ftill  near  to 
flay  me  ?  O  that  I  may  have  patience  given, 
and  refolution  ftrengthened  to  continue  feek- 
ing,  and  if  at  laft  I  mould  perim,  that  it 
may  be  at  his  footftool !  For  a  fmall  fpace 
I  had  fome  hope  of  beholding  again  him 
whom  my  foul  once  loved  above  all  things; 
but  in  a  few  miles  riding  it  began  to  look 
pleafant  to  me  to  go  into  fome  remote  place, 
where  I  mould  not  be  known.  When  re- 
flecting thus — what !  abandon  mine  acquaint- 
ance !  violate  my  marriage  covenant,  and 
leave  my  deareft  connections !  I  fuddenly 

knew 


46     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

knew  this  profpect  of  pleafure  was  from  the 
evil  one,  and  fomething  in  me  abhorred  it 
as  wicked,  and  as  it  were  clofed  my  eyes 
therefrom;  fo  that  evening  I  went  to  the 
houfe  of  a  former  intimate  acquaintance  to 
lodge,  who  received  me  kindly,  and  in  the 
evening  brought  a  book  containing  fome  af- 
tronomical  problems,  and  began  to  converfe 
very  freely  thereon,  fuppofing  it  would  be 
j>leafant  to  me  as  aforetime;  but  I  was  heavy 
in  my  fpirit,  and  inwardly  thoughtful  about 
fomething  of  another  nature,  and  he  foon 
perceiving  his  converfation  on  that  fubjecl 
was  difagreeable,  propofed  my  going  to  bed, 
as  fitteft  for  a  weary  man,  judging  that  to 
be  my  prefent  ailment ;  I  was  glad  of  the 
offer,  and  immediately  accepted  thereof.  I 
now  faw  clearly  that  when  my  mind  was 
turned  from  delighting  in  that  wherein  our 
former  friendmip  coniifted,  my  company 
was  rather  unpleafant  to  him.  I  foon  left 
his  houfe  in  the  morning,  difpatched  my 
bufmefs,  and  returned  home  with  as  much 
fpeed  as  I  could,  without  the  leafl  inclination 
to  go  elfewhere.  I  believe  my  prayer  was 
heard,  for  I  had  patience  granted  to  me ;  I 
fay  granted,  becaufe  no  man  can  endue  him- 
felf  therewith,  and  I  think  my  diftrefs  gra- 
dually abated  after  the  time  aforementioned. 
When  one  has  farted,  and  fuffered  the 
want  of  natural  food  for  a  long  feafon,  men 
of  prudence  will  portion  out  the  food  they 
give  to  fuch  with  care,  that  ftrength  may 

be 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    47 

be  increafed  and  the  conftitution  preferred 
healthful  and  found.  The  Lord,  whofe 
love  and  care  to  his  children  doth  far  exceed 
that  of  any  natural  parent  to  his  offspring, 
dealt  with  me  in  his  tender  mercy,  giving 
at  times,  by  the  gentle  touches  of  his  love, 
to  feel  that  he  had  not  forfaken  me,  which 
in  a  few  minutes  would  be  again  withdrawn; 
but,  though  of  mort  continuance,  was  fuffi- 
cient  for  me  to  own  it  was  worth  all  my 
forrowful  longing  for;  and  hereby  he  was 
pleafed  to  let  me  experimentally  know  the 
value  of  heavenly  bread  by  the  want  of  it. 
Having  food  and  raiment,  I  was  now  taught 
to  be  therewith  content :  the  renewing  of 
heavenly  favour,  and  the  covering  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  fo  as  to  be  admitted  to  {land 
before  him  in  humble  reverence  with  gra- 
cious acceptance,  was  all  my  foul  craved.  I 
neither  wanted  this  man's  gift,  nor  the  other 
man's  popularity  and  eloquence,  but  to  be  in 
mercy  admitted  into  the  number  of  his  fa- 
mily, and  occupying  mine  own  gift  to  his 
honour  alone  that  gave  it.  When  Peter  was 
examined  by  his  Lord,  whom  he  had  denied 
through  fear,  "  Lovefl  thou  me  more  than 
"  thefe?"  the  third  time  anfwered,  "  Thou 
'.'  knoweft  all  things,  thou  knoweft  that  I 
"  love  thee,"  he  did  not  anfwer  the  quef- 
tion  in  its  full  extent,  viz.  more  than  tbefe, 
with  refpedt  to  the  reft  of  the  difciples,  who 
had  not  denied  their  Lord  and  Mafter,  as 
Peter  had  done,  who  was  neverthelefs  looked 

upon 


48      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

upon  with  forgiving  companion,  and  there- 
fore had  need  to  love  in  proportion.  Per- 
haps his  honeft  confettion  and  appeal  to  his 
Matter's  knowledge  might  fhorten  his  an- 
fwer.  His  threefold  charge  of  feeding  the 
iheep  and  lambs  of  his  Lord  was  necettary, 
to  gain  his  diligent  attention  to  the  work  of 
him  whom  he  had  three  times  denied  :  he  to 
whom  much  is  forgiven  loveth  much,  if  he 
is  not  ungrateful.  No  marvel  that  I  met 
with  this  trial  of  my  love  and  affection,  who 
fo  often  (not  through  fear,  but  the  delire 
of  indulging  my  creaturely  will)  had  denied 
or  neglected  to  follow  my  Lord  and  Matter, 
who  had  fo  early  made  me  acquainted  with 
his  will,  and  who  now  had  patted  by  mine 
offences,  and  called  me  to  work  in  his  vine- 
yard. Now  I  was  made  thankful  for  favours 
which  before  had  been  fcarcely  owned  as 
fuch :  for  to  be  preferved  inwardly  watchful, 
and  quietly  refigned  to  wait  upon  the  Lord, 
though  we  partake  not  of  immediate  confo- 
lation  by  the  renewing  of  life,  is  a  great 
blefling,  for  which  we  ought  to  be  thank- 
ful, as  we  cannot  ftay  our  own  minds,  nor 
curb  our  thoughts.  And  I  did  believe  that 
labour  was  healthful,  created  an  appetite, 
and  fweetened  the  relifh  of  reft  and  food  in 
a  fpiritual  as  well  as  natural  fenfe,  and  there- 
fore I  wanted  not  to  eat  the  bread  of  idle- 
nefs,  and  live  on  the  labour  of  others. 

After  this  trial,  which  continued  mott  of 
the  fummer,  I  was  much  favoured  with  the 

incomes 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     49 

incomes  of  Divine  Love  and  Life,  and  in 
the  winter  following  vifited  moft  of  the 
meetings  in  Chefter  county,  and  fome  few 
in  Philadelphia  county.  The  weather  was 
very  cold,  being  about  the  middle  of  the 
tenth  month  when  I  fet  out,  and  in  my 
journey  went  to  vifit  a  worthy  friend  who 
was  indifpofed,  and  lodged  at  his  houfe; 
and  as  we  fat  together  in  the  evening  he 
afked  me  why  I  chofe  the  winter  feafon  to 
vifit  my  friends,  for  many  infirm  folks  could 
hardly  attend  meetings,  and  faid  he  was 
fometimes  ready  to  query  whether  publick 
friends  do  not  take  that  time  to  ferve  their 
Mafter,  becaufe  they  could  do  but  little  for 
themfelves.  I  was  thoughtful  and  low  in 
my  mind  before,  and  had  fome  reafoning, 
whether  it  had  not  been  better  that  I  had 
ftaid  at  home,  than  ventured  out  on  the  fer- 
vice  at  that  time  of  the  year.  Though  I 
thought  I  had  an  engagement  fufficient 
when  I  fet  out,  this  query  of  his  made  me 
more  thoughtful,  and  added  to  my  reafon- 
ing ;  but  I  foon  recovered  ftrength,  and  it 
came  frefh  in  my  mind  to  afk  him  whe- 
ther friends  could  eat  to  fupply  and  fuftain 
their  bodies  in  the  furnmer,  and  partake  alfo 
of  fpiritual  food  for  their  fouls  in  that  fea- 
fon, fo  as  not  to  labour  in  the  winter,  and 
care  for  the  fuilenance  of  their  bodies ;  or 
affemble  and  attend  meetings  to  worfhip  and 
wait  upon  God  for  fpiritual  food  for  their 
fouls  ?  He  acknowledged  I  had  by  this 
E  query 


50     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

query  fatisfied  him  to  the  full,  and  faid  he 
was  glad  of  my  vifit,  and  hoped  his  talking 
as  he  did  would  not  difcourage  me ;  for  I 
believe  he  faw  it  brought  a  damp  over  me  at 
firft.  This  anfwer  I  believe  was  given  to 
me  for  mine  own  help,  and  was  encourage- 
ment to  me  through  this  journey,  in  which 
I  had  moft  of  the  time  Jofhua  Johnfon  of 
Londongrove  for  a  companion,  who  was 
very  agreeable,  and  in  my  return  home  I  felt 
great  peace. 

CHAP.     II. 

His  journey  'with  Robert  Jordan  to  the  Wef- 
tern  part  of  Maryland  in  the  year  1738. 
Alfo  to  the  Quarterly -meeting  at  Skrewjbury 
in  New  Jerfey — And  'with  'John  Hunt 
through  that  province  —  His  'vi/it  to  the 
Eaftern  ft  ore  of  Maryland — His  journey  to 
Fairfax  and  Hopewell  in  Virginiat  in  com- 
pany with  a  committee  of  friends — And  a 
fecond  time  to  the  Eajlern  foore  of  Mary- 
landy  with  John  Cadwalader  and  companion 
— And  his  vi/it  to  New-England,  in  com- 
pany with  Samuel  Hopwood,  in  1 742 . 

IN  the    fummer  following   I    went   with 
Robert    Jordan    to    Weft-river    yearly- 
meeting,  in  Maryland,  and  we  vifited  moft 
of  the  meetings  of  friends  in  that  province, 
and  his   company  was  profitably  inftructive 

to 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      51 

to  me,  who  was  but  young  in  the  miniftry. 
I  think  I  knew  him  well :  he  had  a  good 
gift  of  the  miniflry,  and  was  highly  favoured 
in  the  living  openings  of  truth,  but  was 
often  low  in  mind,  and  very  humble  in  fpi- 
rit.  One  time,  as  we  were  riding  together, 
he  lagged  behind  for  feveral  miles ;  I  aflced 
him  why  he  rode  fo  flow,  he  made  no  reply, 
whereupon  I  flopped  until  he  came  up  :  his 
countenance  was  lolid,  and  looked  as  if  he 
had  been  weeping;  I  afked  what  ailed  him. 
After  fome  time  he  told  me  that  he  had  been 
thinking  of  the  great  favours  which  man 
partook  of,  particularly  in  being  placed  over 
the  beafls  of  the  field,  and  how  eafily  they 
were  broke  and  made  fubject  to  his  will ; 
what  a  fmall  turn  with  the  bridle  would 
put  them  to  the  right  hand  or  the  left,  and 
on  a  gentle  motion  would  amend  or  flacken 
their  pace,  at  the  will  or  pleafure  of  the  ri- 
der ;  and  that  man,  the  moft  noble  and  in- 
telligent creature,  mould  fo  far  neglect  the 
duty  of  a  willing  fubjection  to  his  Maker, 
who  fo  highly  has  favoured  him  with  tem- 
poral bleffings,  and  the  knowledge  of  hea- 
venly things.  I  had  been  at  that  meeting 
about  three  years  before,  having  had  fome 
bufmefs  to  do  for  a  friend  of  mine  on  the 
Eaftern  more  of  Chefapeak,  and  crofTed  over 
the  bay  to  the  Weftern  fhore,  and  was  at  the 
yearly-meeting;  and  being  grieved  at  the 
conduct  of  fome  of  the  elders,  whofe  age, 
if  they  had  kept  to  the  truth,  and  had  been 
£  2  zealous 


52      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

zealous  for  the  honour  thereof,  would  have 
made  them  better  examples,  1  fpoke  my 
mind  plainly  to  them,  but  not  without  pro- 
per caution  (as  I  thought)  both  with  refpect 
to  my  youth  and  their  age ;  but  fome  feemed 
a  little  warmed  thereby,  and  afked  for  my 
certificate,  if  I  had  any.  I  honeftly  told 
them  the  principal  bufmefs  that  brought  me 
from  home  was  temporal,  which  having  ac- 
commodated, I  thought  I  might  attend  that 
meeting  without  offence,  if  I  did  not  mif- 
behave  myfelf.  William  Richardfon  defired 
friends  to  confider  what  I  had  faid,  for  he 
believed  if  they  did  they  would  perceive  the 
young  man  had  a  certificate  with  him,  that 
might  anfwer  for  one  of  a  neighbouring  pro- 
vince to  attend  fuch  a  meeting. 

It  may  not  be  unfeafonable  to  relate  that 
in  the  year  1736,  one  night,  as  I  lay  in  bed, 
my  mind  was  uncommonly  affected  with  the 
incomes  of  Divine  Love  and  Life,  and  there- 
in I  had  a  view  of  the  churches  in  New- 
Jerfey,  with  a  clear  profpect  that  I  mould 
vifit  them :  and  in  that  profpect  and  the 
ftrength  of  affedion  which  I  then  felt,  I  faid 
in  my  heart,  It  is  enough,  I  will  prepare  for 
the  journey  as  foon  as  I  can  hear  of  a  fuit- 
able  companion ;  for  I  do  not  expect  that  I 
fhall  have  a  clearer  fight 'than  I  now  have. 
I  foon  heard  of  a  friend  who  had  a  vifit  to 
New-Jerfey  before  him  j  I  fpoke  to  him 
about  my  concern;  he  let  me  know  that  he 
knew  of  a  companion,  and  they  had  agreed 

upon 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     53 

upon  a  time  to  proceed.  After  I  had  men- 
tioned it  to  him  and  fome  other  friends,  my 
concern  feemed  to  die  away;  but  I  remem- 
bered the  refolution  that  I  took  up,  and  that 
I  then  had  thought  I  would  not  look  to  be 
bidden  again ;  and  was  fearful  fomething  had 
drawn  my  mind  from  the  proper  attention 
to  that  opening,  which  was  the  reafon  it 
feemed  to  go  off;  but  the  more  I  fr.ro  ve  to 
look  after  it,  the  duller  it  grew.  I  then  forely 
repented  that  I  had  fpoken  about  it,  and 
thought  it  mould  be  a  warning  to  me  in  fu- 
ture :  for  I  began  to  fee  there  was  a  differ- 
ence between  feeing  what  was  to  be  done, 
and  being  bidden  to  do  the  thing  mewn. 
Befides  this,  I  had  to  confider  there  was  a 
time  to  bud,  a  time  to  bloffom,  a  time  for 
fruit  to  fet  and  appear,  and  a  time  for  it  to 
ripen. 

And  in  the  fore  part  of  the  winter,  1738, 
I  thought  it  feemed  to  revive,  and  when  I 
faw  John  Hunt,  a  friend  from  England,  I 
believed  I  mould  go  with  him  when  he 
went  through  New-Jerfey,  and  told  him 
what  I  thought,  at  which  he  rejoiced,  for 
we  were  nearly  united.  So  we  appointed  a 
time  to  meet  at  Philadelphia,  and  when  we 
had  fo  far  concluded,  being  about  fix  weeks 
beforehand,  my  concern,  as  I  thought,  foon 
withered  away,  and  I  began  to  be  in  great 
fear  that  I  had  been  again  too  forward  there- 
in ;  but  after  fome  time  of  humbling  exer- 
cile  on  that  account,  the  Lord,  whom  I 
E  3  feared, 


54      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

feared,  from  the  love  with  which  he  was 
pleafed  to  enrich  my  heart,  gave  me  to  re- 
member, that  when  I  made  the  appointment 
with  my  friend,  it  was  in  his  fear,  and  great 
abafement  of  felf,  and,  as  I  had  feen  clearly 
to  make  the  appointment,  it  was  my  place 
to  attend  in  humble  reliance  on  him  for 
ability  to  perform  the  embafTy;  for  the 
Lord,  who  calleth  and  fendeth  forth  his 
own,  will  alfo  provide  all  things  convenient 
for  them. 

When  the  time  came,  I  fet  forward  very 
poor  and  needy,  which  continued  until  we 
entered  our  fervice.  We  took  a  few  meet- 
ings before  our  general  fpring  meeting,  and 
after  attending  that  we  went  to  Woodberry, 
Piles-grove,  iralem,  Alloways-creek,  Cohan- 
He,  and  fo  to  Cape  May,  and  had  fome  clofe 
work,  but  in  the  main  fatisfa&ory  to  our- 
felves  at  leaft.  After  having  feveral  meetings 
at  and  near  the  Capes,  we  went  to  Great- 
Egg-harbour,  and  had  a  meeting  there,  and 
another  at  the  houfe  of  our  friend  Japhet 
Leeds,  and  fo  over  the  Marfhes  to  Little- 
Egg-harbour  river,  and  had  two  meetings 
with  friends,  in  one  of  which  I  flood  up 
with  a  large  opening,  as  I  thought;  but  after 
a  mort  introduction  it  clofed  up,  and  I  fat 
down  again,  which  was  fome  mortification 
to  me  as  a  man,  though  very  profitable,  be- 
ing thereby  taught  to  know  that  he  that 
would  fpeak  as  the  oracle  of  God  muir.,  un- 
der the  gentle  burden  of  the  word,  in  hum- 
ble 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      55 

ble  fear  wait  for  wifdom,  utterance  and  abi- 
lity, to  perform  the  fervice  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  the  church  and  his  own  inward 
peace,  an4  not  to  look  after  large  and  fpe- 
cious  openings,  fometimes  deferable  to  the 
creatureiy  part,  both  in  ourfelves  and  others, 
which  muft  furFer  famine. 

At  one  of  the  meetings  in  thefe  parts, 
coming  very  early,  a  friend  belonging  there- 
to invited  us  to  go  to  his  houfe,  not  far  off, 
and  he  would  put  up  our  horfes  to  hay 
during  the  time  of  the  meeting,  faying,  that 
we  muft  go  to  his  houfe  to  dine;  but  I  felt 
a  ftop  in  my  mind,  and  told  him  that  our 
horfes  could  ftand  very  well  there  until  after 
meeting.  It  fo  fell  out  that  neither  of  us 
faid  any  thing  in  the  meeting,  which  never- 
thelefs  was  to  us  fatisfadlory ;  for  we  had  a 
fenfe,  that  the  people  had  been  fed  with 
words,  and  had  a  hunger  thereafter,  more 
than  for  the  inftru<5tion  of  the  pure  word  of 
Power  and  Life  nigh  in  the  heart  and  mouth, 
that  they  might  not  only  hear  it,  but  be 
found  doers  thereof.  After  the  meeting  no 
one  afked  us  to  dine,  but  went  away  and  left 
us,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  care  of  our 
kind  guide,  that  came  from  the  meeting  we 
were  laft  at,  we  mould  have  been  at  a  lofs 
to  have  got  forward.  I  mention  this  to  (hew 
how  unacceptable  filence  is  to  fuch  whofe 
ears  itch  after  words. 

From  hence  we  went  through  the  defert 

to  Upper  Springfield,  where  we  had  a  fatif- 

E  4  factory 


c6       THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 
v 

factory  meeting ;  then  taking  the  meetings 

northward  to  Stonybrook  and  Trenton,  we 
returned  to  Bordentown,  and  fo  croffed  De- 
laware. Some-  of  the  meetings  were  large, 
and  very  fatisfactory  under  the  owning  of 
truth,  the  power  whereof  was  in  dominion, 
and  the  name  of  the  Lord  praifed,  who  is 
worthy  for  ever ;  and  fome  were  remarkably 
clofe  and  hard,  which  made  me  remember  a 
laying  of  that  experienced  minifler  and  elder 
John  Fothergill,  that,  '  When  he  was  firil 
in  this  country,  he  had  fome  extraordinary 
meetings  hereaway,  the  people  being  in- 
duftrious  in  a  natural  as  well  as  fpiritual 
fenfe,  fome  of  whom  were  now  removed, 
and  their  children  poflerTed  the  temporal 
eftates  of  their  fathers  5  and  though  their 
outward  habitations  looked  fpacious,  their 
meetings  for  wormip  were  dull  and  heavy, 
by  reafon  of  a  worldly  fpirit,  and  their 
indifference  about  heavenly  treafure.'  One 
meeting  which  we  were  at  was  remarkably 
hard;  my  companion  John  Hunt  was  ex- 
ceedingly exercifed,  under  a  fenfe  that  the 
people  were  too  rich,  full,  and  whole  in 
their  own  eyes.  He  fat  the  meeting  through, 
and  fuffered  in  filence;  but  I  had  fomething 
to  fay  very  clofe  and  particular,  and  felt  a 
degree  of  the  ftrength  and  power  of  truth  to 
clear  myfelf  in  an  innocent  and  loving  man- 
ner, and,  remembering  they  were  brethren, 
did  not  preach  myfelf  out  of  charity  to- 
wards them,  and  fo  had  peace.  We  went 

home 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      57 

home  with  an  elderly  friend,  who,  in  a  ftern 
manner,  aiked  me  from  whence  I  came,  and 
faid  I  was  a  ft  ranger  to  him.  I  anfwered 
him  with  a  cheerful  boldnefs.  He  afked  me 
what  my  calling  was;  I  told  him  hufbandry. 
He  farther  queried  if  I  was  ufed  to  fplitting 
of  wood ;  I  let  him  know  I  had  practifed  it  for 
many  years.  He  again  afked  me,  if  I  knew 
the  meaning  of  a  common  faying  of  thofe 
who  were  ufed  to  that  bufineis,  '  'Tis  foft 
'  knocks  muft  enter  hard  blocks  :'  I  told 
him  I  knew  it  well;  but  there  was  fome 
old  wood,  that  was  rather  decayed  at  heart, 
and  to  ftrike  with  a  foft  or  gentle  blow  at 
a  wedge  in  fuch  blocks,  would  drive  it  to 
the  head  without  rending  them,  and  the  la- 
bour would  be  loft,  when  a  few  fmart  lively 
ftrokes  would  burft  them  afunder.  Where- 
upon he  laid  his  hand  on  my  moulder,  fay- 
ing, '  Well,  my  lad ;  I  perceive  thou  art 
'  born  for  a  warrior,  and  I  commend  thee/ 
And  thus  we  came  off  better  than  we  ex- 
pefted ;  for  I  thought  he  pointed  at  my  fer- 
vice  that  day.  He  was  ever  afterward  very 
loving  to  me,  and  I  was  inwardly  thankful 
that  the  Lord  was  near  to  me,  for  which  I 
praife  his  facred  name !  To  be  becomingly 
bold  in  the  caufe  of  truth,  at  times  is  parti- 
cularly neceffary;  otherwife  the  weight  of 
the  teftimony  thereof  would  be  leflened,  and 
a  carping  fpirit  fet  over  it. 

From  Bordentown  we  went  to  Plumftead, 
;n  Bucks-county,  and  on  a  firft  day  had  a 

pretty 


58      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

pretty  good  meeting,  and  to  a  monthly- 
meeting  af  Buckingham,  then  to  Wrights-' 
town,  the  Falls,  and  Middletown,  which 
meetings  were  in  a  good  degree  fatisfactory, 
the  reaches  of  the  Power  of  Truth  heing 
felt  to  extend,  for  which  we  were  thankful. 
Though  in  fome  of  them  there  is  too  great 
a  want  of  faithful  members  to  put  the  dif- 
cipline  in  practice  againft  thofe  that  were 
dilbrderly,  and  thereby  brought  a  reproach 
on  the  truth.  We  then  went  to  Philadel- 
phia, and  next  day  to  Chefler,  from  whence 
I  went  home  the  fame  day. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1740,  I  had  forne 
drawings  in  my  mind'  to  attend  the  quarter- 
ly-meeting at  Shrewlbury,  and  was  at  feve- 
ral  meetings  on  my  way  thither ;  at  one  of 
which  a  friend  appeared,  who  I  thought  had 
good  fervice  in  the  fore  part  of  his  teftimo- 
ny;  but  as  truth  did  not  rife  into  dominion 
fo  high  as  he  expected,  perhaps  in  too  much 
zeal  and  creaturely  warmth,  he  hid  on  a 
little  too  faft,  and  continued  until  the  life  ra- 
ther abated,  and  fome  tender  minds  were  hurt. 
For  it  often  happens,  that  fuch  to  whom 
hard  things  belong,  will  put  them  off,  and 
thofe  who  are  more  tender,  and  leaft  deferv- 
ing  of  fuch  doctrine,  will  take  -it  to  them- 
felves,  to  their  own  hurt.  Oh  !  how  care- 
ful minifters  ought  to  be  whilft  they  are  in 
their  fervice,  that  they  may  be  favoured  with 
an  inward  feeling  fenfe  of  the  ftates  to  which 
they  minifler,  and  be  influenced  with  Wif- 

dom, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     59 

dom  from  above,  to  divide  the  word  aright, 
in  meeknefs,  gentlenefs,  and  holy  fear,  then 
truth  will  have  its  own  weight,  authority, 
and  power.  After  the  friend  fat  down,  it 
became  the  concern  of  another,  in  a  few 
words,  as  it  were  to  number  the  flain,  and 
fearch  for  the  wounded,  and  let  clofe  and 
hard  things  where  they  belonged,  by  defcrib- 
ing  their  feveral  difpoiitions  in  choofing  and 
refufing  to  take  hard  things.  Afterwards, 
being  in  company  with  the  friend  above 
hinted,  and  he  being  down  in  his  mind, 
and  perhaps  not  fully  knowing  the  caufe, 
alked  me  what  I  thought  of  the  meeting,  to 
which  I  was  not  forward  to  anfwer.  He 
faid,  '  Tell  me  what  I  have  done  this  day.' 
Whereupon  I  afked  him  privately,  and  in  a 
pleafant  manner,  what  Gideon  did  to  the 
men  of  Succoth  j  Jud.  viii.  16.  at  which 
he  was  greatly  humbled,  fully  understanding 
what  I  meant,  and  did  not  in  the  leafl  refertt 
the  hint;  which  I  thought  was  truly  great 
in  him,  and  very  becoming  a  minifter :  for 
if  we  would  inftrud:  others,  we  mould  be 
examplary  in  taking  inftru&ion  ourfelves 
when  necefTary. 

On  my  way  falling  in  company  with  Ro- 
bert Jordan,  we  had  a  freedom  to  propofe  a 
meeting  to  the  Anabaptifts  at  Middletown, 
to  which  they  readily  confented,  and  we 
had  a  profitable  opportunity  with  them  in 
their  meeting-houfe,  and  on  the  fame  even- 
ing a  meeting  at  the  houfe  of  Hugh  Hartf- 

horne, 


60     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

home,  to  which  feveral  Baptifts  came.  This 
was  a  time  of  favour,  and  I  hope  of  fer- 
vice;  it  was  concluded  by  Robert  Jordan  in 
folemn  prayer  and  thankfgiving  to  the  Lord, 
who  is  worthy  for  ever  and  ever.  Jufb  as 
the  meeting  broke  up,  I  felt  myfelf  poor 
and  inwardly  weak,  to  as  great  a  degree  as 
ever  I  had  done,  and  looking  towards  my 
laid  friend,  I  faw  he  was  in  the  fame  condi- 
tion; for  it  feemed  as  if  we  had  hardly 
ftrength  to  ftand :  but  a  query  of  our  dear 
Lord's  came  fuddenly  into  my  mind,  and 
miniflered  relief,  viz.  "  Who  hath  touched 
"  mer"  Whereupon,  leaning  toward  my  com- 
panion, I  repeated  it  to  him,  being  my  be- 
lief that  it  was  as  much  for  his  relief  as  my 
own.  He  underftood  the  meaning  inftantly, 
without  further  explanation,  and  was  there- 
by alfo  relieved.  Perhaps  fome,  who  may 
hereafter  perufe  thefe  lines,  may  think  this 
is  too  bold  for  a  mortal  man  to  mention  $ 
but  having  by  a  degree  of  experience  known, 
that  when  the  healing  virtue  of  truth,  from 
the  holy  Phyfician  of  Souls,  has  flowed 
through  an  humble  fervant,  to  the  relief  of 
fome  of  the  infirm  and  poor  amongft  the 
people,  who  have  followed  phyficians  of  no 
value,  and  fpent  all  their  living  thereby,  and 
no  cure  wrought,  notwithstanding  virtue  has 
gone  through  them,  as  infcruments  or  con- 
duits, they  have  felt  inwardly  weak  for  a 
time,  that  in  humble  abaftment  of  foul  they 
might  be  taught  to  acknowledge,  that  the 

king- 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      61 

kingdom,  power,  and  glory,  doth  belong  to 
him  alone,  who  is  God  over  all,  bleffed  for 
ever  and  ever. 

From  thence  we  went  to  William  Hartf- 
horne's,  at  Sandy-hook,  and  fo  to  the  quar- 
terly-meeting at  Shrewfbury,  which  was 
large  in  the  feveral  fittings,  in  which  was 
felt  the  power  of  truth  in  a  good  degree ; 
but  many  loofe  and  rude  people  of  the 
neighbourhood,  and  parts  adjacent,  coming 
together  at  fuch  times,  to  drink,  caroufe,  and 
ride  races,  are  very  hurtful  to  each  other, 
and  difturbing  to  friends.  Then  going 
homeward,  I  had  feveral  meetings  on  the 
way,  and  enjoyed  great  inward  peace,  and 
could  therefore  rejoice,  and  afcribe  the  praife 
to  the  Lord,  who  had  called  and  enabled  me 
to  perform  this  fervice. 

Having  a  concern  on  my  mind  to  vifit  the 
meetings  of  friends  on  the  Eaftern  more  in 
Maryland,  I  laid  it  before  our  monthly- 
meeting,  and  obtained  a  certificate  on  the 
tenth  month;  my  brother-in-law,  James 
Brown,  bearing  me  company ;  and  we  were 
at  Ccecil  monthly-meeting,  held  at  Chefter, 
in  the  eleventh  month.  Before  meeting  a 
friend  informed  me,  that  he  thought  it  would 
be  beft  for  me  to  crofs  Chefter  river,  and  go 
directly  fouthward.  I  told  him  it  might  be 
fo,  but  I  could  fay  little  to  it  at  prefent. 
But  fome  friends  confulting  about  it,  and 
one  being  there  who  lived  near  the  meeting- 
houfe  in  Queen  Ann's  county,  they  thought 

he 


62      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

he  could  give  notice  on  firfl  day  to  feveral 
meetings.  So  a  friend  ventured  to  fpeak  pub- 
lickly  thereof  at  the  clofe  of  the  meeting  for 
worfhip,  without  letting  me  know  what  he 
intended  to  do.  I  had  been  uncommonly 
diftreffed  as  I  fat  in  the  meeting,  from  an 
apprehenfion  that  but  few  of  the  friends  be- 
longing to  that  particular  meeting  were  there, 
and  when  he  publimed  where  it  was  propofed 
I  mould  be  the  enfuing  week,  I  felt  my  mind 
opened  and  turned  another  way,  and  flood  up 
and  told  friends,  that  I  did  believe  they  thought 
it  moft  for  my  eafe  to  lay  out  the  meetings 
after  that  manner  ->  but  if  friends  at  that  par- 
ticular meeting  would  favour  me  fo  far  as  to 
meet  there  next  day,  I  mould  be  glad  to  fit 
with  them,  provided  they  would  pleafe  to 
let  other  friends  and  neighbours,  who  were 
abfent,  know  of  it :  for  if  I  had  a  right 
fenfe,  there  were  feveral  members  not  pre- 
fent,  and  I  mould  be  willing  to  be  at  Cscil 
meeting  on  firft  day,  and  SafTafrafs  on  fecond 
day,  which  was  directly  back,  and  therefore 
told  them  it  feemed  eafieft  to  my  mind, 
though  it  would  occafion  more  riding.  This 
being  agreed  to,  we  had  a  much  larger  meet- 
ing next  day;  for  many  before  were  abfent, 
as  I  had  thought,  and  I  had  a  full  opportu- 
nity to  difcharge  myfelf  toward  the  luke- 
warm and  indifferent,  and  diforderly  walk- 
ers, and  had  peace.  I  vifited  feveral  families 
on  feventh  day  to  good  fatisfaclion,  and  was 
at  Caecil  meeting  on  firfl  day,  and  the  next 

day 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      63 

day  at  SaiTafrafs,  and  had  to  believe  it  was 
by  the  fecret  direction  of  the  good  Shepherd, 
who  never  faileth  his  dependent  children, 
that  I  was  turned  this  way :  for  he  was 
pleafed  to  own  my  fervice  in  thefe  meetings 
by  his  prefence  in  a  good  degree,  to  the 
praife  of  his  own  name,  which  is  worthy 
for  ever.  From  thence  we  paffed  over  the 
head  of  Chefter,  by  the  bridge,  John  Brown- 
ing, a  friend  from  Saffafrafs,  going  with  us 
as  a  guide,  who  fome  time  before  had  been 
convinced  of  the  bleffed  Truth  by  the  in- 
ward operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  witho'ut 
any  instrumental  means.  He  had  been  a 
member  of  the  church  of  England,  fo  called, 
and  for  his  fobriety  was  chofen  a  veftry- 
man  j  but  after  a  time  felt  a  fcruple  in  his 
mind  about  taking  off  his  hat  when  he  en- 
tered the  church-yard,  fo  called,  fearing  it 
was  a  fuperftitious  adoration  of  the  ground, 
from  its  fuppofed  holinefs  ;  but  would  take 
it  off  when  he  entered  the  worfhip  houfe, 
and  walk  uncovered  to  his  pew  :  but  after  a 
time  he  could  not  uncover  his  head,  till  what 
they  call  Divine  Service  began ;  which,  as 
he  kept  inwardly  attentive  to  the  fcruple  in 
his  mind,  became  very  lifelefs  to  him,  who 
was  inwardly  feeking  for  fubftance  and  life, 
and  therefore  withdrew  therefrom,  and  after 
fome  time  went  to  one  of  our  meetings,  ra- 
ther out  of  curiolity  than  expecting  any 
good,  but  felt  himfelf  owned,  and  had  a 
tafte  of  the  peace  which  the  world  cannot 

give, 


64     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

give,  and  from  that  time  became  a  conftant 
attender  of  our  meetings. 

We  had  a  meeting  at  Queen  Ann's,  a- 
mongft  a  people  who,  for  want  of  keeping 
to  the  life  of  religion,  had  almoft  loft  the 
form.  In  converfation  at  a  certain  houfe  in 
the  evening,  I  afked  a  friend  whether  me 
was  a  friend's  child,  or  one  convinced  of  our 
principles.  Her  reply  was,  that  when  me 
was  young  fhe  lived  at  a  friend's  houfe,  and 
took  a  notion  of  going  to  meeting  with 
them,  which  me  had  done  ever  fince.  Alas ! 
when  notion  changes  the  will,  and  not  that 
faith  which  works  by  love  to  the  purifying 
of  the  heart,  the  religion  is  without  reform- 
ation, empty,  and  dead.  From  thence  we 
went  to  Tuckaho  meeting,  and  the  weather 
being  very  cold,  and  rivers  frozen  up,  feve- 
ral  mailers  of  veflels  and  failors  came  there, 
and  divers  others,  people  of  fafhion,  with 
gay  cloathing.  In  the  fore  part  of  the  meet- 
ing there  was  an  appearance  made  which 
grieved  me,  for  my  heart  yearned  towards 
the  people.  The  words  that  he  began  with 
were,  "  Wo,  wo,  to  the  crown  of  pride, 
"  and  drunkards  in  Ephraim/'  and  with 
very  little  application  fat  down.  It  appeared 
to  me  as  if  the  appearance  of  gaiety  had 
fired  the  creaturely  zeal,  which  was  the 
chief  motion  to  this  fhort  fermon.  This, 
with  the  cold  wind  blowing  in  at  the  door, 
much  unfettled  the  meeting,  it  being  at  the 
time  when  that  remarkable  fnow  fell,  which 

laid 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     65 

laid  fo  long  in  deep  drifts  this  winter. 
Whereupon  I  defired  the  door  might  be  fhut, 
which  being  done,  the  houfe  became  more 
comfortable,  and  the  meeting  fettled,  and  I 
ftood  up  with  an  heart  filled  with  affection, 
having  that  paffage  of  fcripture  before  me, 
in  which  the  apoflle  declared  the  univerfality 
of  the  Love  of  God;  "  I  perceive  of  a 
"  truth  that  God  is  no  refpecter  of  perfons," 
&c.  and  was  much  enlarged  thereon,  to  my 
own  admiration,  and  I  believe  fatisfaction 
of  the  people.  The  meeting  ended  fweetly 
with  thankfgiving  and  prayer  to  the  Lord, 
for  the  continuance  of  his  mercy,  who  is 
the  alone  author  of  all  good,  and  worthy  of 
adoration  and  worfhip  for  ever !  After  which, 
we  attended  the  feveral  neighbouring  meet- 
ings, though  very  fevere  cold  weather,  and 
the  houfes  being  very  open,  and  unprovided 
with  the  means  of  keeping  them  warm,  of 
which  there  is  too  manifeft  a  neglect  in  thofe 
parts,  they  were  uncomfortable  and  unfet- 
tled.  In  this  journey  my  companion  ap- 
peared in  a  few  words  in  feveral  families  and 
meetings.  We  reached  home  jufl  before  our 
quarterly-meeting  in  the  twelfth  month. 

In  this  journey,  travelling  in  Talbot 
county,  an  elderly  man  afked  us  if  we  faw 
fome  pofts  ftanding,  pointing  to  them,  and 
added,  the  firft  meeting  George  Fox  had  on 
this  fide  of  Chefepeak  Bay,  was  held  in  a 
tobacco-houfe  there,  which  was  then  new  : 
the  polls  that  were  ftanding  were  made  of 
F  walnut. 


66      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

walnut.  At  which  John  Browning  above- 
mentioned  rode  to  them,  and  fat  on  his  horfe 
very  flill .  and  quiet ;  then  returning  to  us 
again,  with  more  fpeed  than  he  went,  I  afked 
him  what  he  faw  among  thofe  old  pofls  \ 
he  anfwered,  '  I  would  not  have  milled  of 
what  I  faw  for  five  pounds ;  for  I  faw  the 
root  and  grounds  of  idolatry.  Before  I 
went,  I  thought  perhaps  I  might  have  felt 
fome  fecret  virtue  in  the  place  where 
George  Fox  had  flood  and  preached,  whom 
I  believe  to  have  been  a  good  man  j  but 
whilfl  I  flood  there,  I  was  fecretly  in- 
formed, that  if  George  was  a  good  man 
he  was  in  heaven,  and  not  there,  and  vir- 
tue is  not  to  be  communicated  by  dead 
things,  whether  ports,  earth,  or  curious 
pictures,  but  by  the  power  of  God,  who 
is  the  fountain  of  living  virtue.'  A  lef- 
fon  which,  if  rightly  learned,  would  wean 
from  the  worlhip  of  images,  and  adoration 
of  reliques. 

I  was  not  many  miles  from  home  this 
fummer,  fave  to  attend  our  own  quarterly 
and  yearly-meetings ;  but  in  the  fall,  having 
fome  drawings  in  my  mind  to  vifit  friends  in 
the  New-fettlement  in  Virginia,  I  went  with  a 
committee  of  the  quarterly- meeting,  appointed 
to  infpecl:  whether  friends  at  Fairfax  were  in 
number  and  weight  fufficient  to  have  a  meet- 
ing fettled  amongft  them,  to  the  reputation 
of  truth  5  and  we  vifited  all  the  families  of 
friends  there,  and  had  a  meeting  among 

them 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     67 

them  to  fatisfadtion.  From  thence  we  went 
to  a  place  called  Providence,  or  Tufkarora, 
from  whence  Mordecai  Yarnal,  who  was  one 
of  the  number,  went  home,  having  heard 
that  his  wife  was  dead,  or  likely  to  die.  We 
had  a  meeting  with  the  friends  there,  who 
were  glad  to  fee  us,  and  then  went  to  Hope- 
well  monthly-meeting,  to  fome  fatisfaction. 
From  whence  I  went  to  a  few  families  fet- 
tled up  Shanondoa,  above  the  Three-topt 
Mountain,  fo  called,  and  had  a  meeting 
amongfi  them.  They  were  pretty  much 
tendered,  and  received  the  vifit  kindly,  e£- 
pecially  fuch  who  did  not  make  profeflion 
of  the  truth  with  us.  I  admired  how  they 
had  notice,  for  many  came  to  it,  and  fome 
ten  miles  or  more.  I  believe  that  the  de,- 
light  in  hunting,  and  a  roving  idle  life,  drew 
moft  of  them  under  our  name  to  fettle 
there.  So  having  difcharged  myfelf  in  a 
plain,  yet  loving  manner,  I  returned  to  Ro- 
bert McCoy  junior's,  and  having  had  feveral 
.other  meetings  thereaway,  I  went  home 
with  peace  of  mind  and  thankfulnefs  of 
heart  to  him  who  alone  enables  his  children 
to  anfwer  his  requirings ;  having  rode  in  this 
journey  above  four  hundred  miles. 

This  winter  John  Cadwalader  and  Zebulon 
Hefton,  in  their  return  from  a  religious  vi- 
fit to  friends  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  and 
Carolina,  were  at  my  houfe,  and  being  de- 
firous  to  vifit  fome  meetings  on  the  Eaflern- 
fliore  of  Maryland,  I  went  with  them  to 
F  2  Saffa- 


68       THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

SafTafrafs-meeting,  and  called  to  fee  the  wi- 
dow and  children  of  John  Browning,  who 
had  been  dead  about  a  month,  and  fhe  gave 
me  in  fubftance  the  following  account  of 
him,  viz. 

'  My  hufband  was  not  long  fick,  but  faid 
that  he  believed  he  mould  not  recover, 
and  charged  me  to  endeavour  that  his 
children  mould  be  brought  up  in  the  way 
of  Truth,  which  friend's  profefs ;  and  if 
they  incline  to  have  trades,  to  put  them 
apprentice  to  real  friends,  not  barely  no- 
minal ones,  (which  fhe  faid  fhe  was  wil- 
ling to  do,  though  fhe  had  never  yet  joined 
to  friends)  and  defired  fhe  would  not  truft 
her  own  judgment,  and  named  fome 
friends  with  whom  fhe  mould  advife  in 
choofing  matters.  Then  faid,  when  I  am 
dead,  bury  me  by  my  father  and  mother, 
in  the  grave-yard  belonging  to  our  family; 
and  thou  knowefl  that  I  put  a  large  grave- 
ftone  at  my  father's  grave,  and  there  is 
one  ready  for  my  mother's  grave,  which  I 
did  not  put  there,  becaufe  I  began  to 
think  they  were  more  for  grandeur  than 
fervice.  I  fent  for  them  from  England, 
(not  at  the  requeft  of  my  father)  they  are 
mine,  and  now  I  have  a  full  teftimony 
againfl  fuch  formal  tokens  of  refpecl:; 
therefore  when  I  am  buried,  before  the 
company  leaves  the  grave,  inform  them 
what  my  will  is,  and  defire  their  help  to 
take  the  grave-ftone  from  my  father's 

«  grave, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     69 

grave,  and  carry  it  out  of  the  yard,  that 

it  may   be  brought  home,  and  lay  one  in 

one  hearth,    and    the  other   in   the  other 

hearth  of  this  new  houfe,  and  they  will 

be  of  real  fervice  there*;  which  (he  pro- 

mifed  him  to  obferve,  and  told  me  me  had 

complied  therewith.     He  remained  fenfi- 

'  ble   to   near  the  laft,    and  departed    in    a 

'  quiet  refigned  frame  of  mind/ 

How  weak  are  the  arguments  of  fuch 
who  make  profeflion  with  us,  and  plead  for 
thofe  grand  marks  of  memorial,  or  other 
tokens  of  diftinftion,  fet  up  at  or  on  the 
graves  of  their  deceaied  relations  -,  and  how 
foon  would  they  fubiide,  did  they  but  live 
fo  near  the  pure  truth,  as  to  feel  the  mind 
thereof;  as  I  fully  believe  this  our  friend 
did,  knowing  that  the  name  of  the  righteous 
will  not  perim,  but  be  had  in  everlafting 
remembrance,  becaufe  their  portion  is  life 
for  evermore,  having  entered  into  that  king- 
dom prepared  for  the  bleffed  before  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world. 

This  fpring  of  the  year,  1742,  I  felt 
ftrong  drawings  of  mind  to  vifit  friends  in 
New-England,  having  had  fome  view  there- 
of feveral  years  before ;  and,  having  obtained 
a  certificate,  I  fet  forward  in  the  third 
month,  and  after  vifiting  feveral  meetings  in 
New-Jerfey,  and  one  in  New- York,  I  at- 

*  He  had  built  a  new  brick  houfe,  and  the  hearth  not 
fully  laid. 

F  3  tended 


70     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

tended  the  yearly-meeting  on  Long-Ifland, 
wherein  the  power  of  truth  was  felt,  and  a 
great  opennefs  to  thofe  of  other  focieties, 
many  of  whom  were  prefent,  particularly 
the  laft  day,  and  two  priefls,  who  behaved 
folidly. 

I  then  went  with  Samuel  Hopwood  (a 
miniftering  friend  from  England,  with  whom 
I  had  travelled  in  this  journey  through  part 
of  New-Jerfey)  to  Ryewood,  and  had  a 
meeting  there,  where  were  a  few  folid 
friends,  but  others  too  talkative.  And  be- 
ing at  Old  Sea-brook,  had  a  meeting  in  an 
inn,  on  the  firft  day  of  the  week.  The. 
people  being  chiefly  Preibyterians,  few  at- 
tended befides  ourfelves,  and  thofe  of  the 
family,  who  were  kind  and  civil  to  us. 
Then  going  to  Conanicut,  we  had  a  meeting 
with  friends  on  that  ifland,  and  proceeded 
to  Newport  on  Rhode- Ifland,  and  on  the 
fifth  day  of  the  week  attended  the  meeting 
at  Portfmouth,  where  we  met  with  Lydia 
Dean  from  Pennfylvania,  who  was  on  a  re- 
ligious vifit  to  friends  in  New-England, 
and  many  other  friends,  coming  to  be  at  the 
yearly-meeting  on  this  ifland.  It  began  on 
the  fixth  day  of  the  week,  with  a  meeting 
of  minifters  and  elders,  and  two  meetings 
for  publick  worfhip,  one  in  the  forenoon, 
and  the  other  in  the  afternoon,  and  were 
held  in  the  fame  order  until  the  fecond  day 
of  the  next  week,  when  the  meeting  for 
difcipline  began.  This  large  yearly-meet- 
ing 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     7i 

ing  in  the  feveral  fettings  thereof  was  gene- 
rally folid  and  fatisfactory.  After  which, 
taking  divers  meetings  in  our  way,  namely, 
Portfmouth,  Tiverton,  Seconnet,  Accoake- 
fet,  and  Aponigangfet,  and  attending  their 
monthly-meeting  there,  all  which  were  in  a 
good  degree  fatisfactory,  Samuel  Hop  wood 
and  myfelf  embarked  for  Nantucket,  and 
through  the  mercy  of  kind  Providence  ar- 
rived fafe  there,  after  a  paflage  of  three  days 
and  two  nights,  occafioned  by  fcant  winds, 
and  an  eafterly  ftorrn,  which  tore  our  fails 
very  much,  being  old  and  rotten  -y  fo  that  if 
fome  watchful  friends  on  the  ifland  had  not 
feen  us  in  diftrefs,  and  come  with  three 
whale  boats,  and  took  all  the  palTengers, 
being  twenty-four  of  us,  from  the  vefTel, 
we  mould  have  been  in  great  danger.  For 
being  near  a  fand-bar,  the  veflel  /truck 
ground  foon  after  we  left  her,  and  by  the 
violence  of  the  wind  was  driven  on  more. 
We  looked  on  this  deliverance  as  a  mercy 
from  God,  to  whom  feveral  of  us  were 
bowed  in  humble  thankfulnefs  for  this  par- 
ticular favour.  On  the  twenty-fecond  day 
of  the  fourth  month  the  yearly-meeting  be- 
gan, which  though  fmall  on  this  day,  by 
reafon  of  the  ftorm,  was  comfortable.  The 
other  fittings  were  moftly  large,  and  in  a 
good  degree  owned  by  the  power  and  virtue 
of  Truth. 

My  friend  Samuel  Hopwood,  apprehend- 
ing himfelf  clear,  inclined  to  return  to  the 
F  4  Main- 


72      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Main-land,  but  no  pafTage  offered  j  and  not- 
withftanding  the  meetings  had  been  gene- 
rally attended  by  moft  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  iiland,  and  large,  yet  I  was  not  eafy 
without  endeavouring  to  have  fome  oppor- 
tunities with  friends  by  themfelves,  as  much 
as  could  be,  which  I  obtained,  befides  at- 
tending their  ufual  week  day  meetings ;  and 
in  thefe  fittings  it  pleafed  the  Lord  to  open 
my  way  to  deliver  feveral  things  which  had 
lain  heavy  on  my  mind.  For  although  fome 
folid  tender-fpirited  friends  lived  on  this 
ifland,  yet  I  faw  there  was  a  libertine  fpirit 
fecretly  at  work  amongft  fome  others,  to 
draw  away  from  the  pure  inward  life  of  re- 
ligion, and  the  fimplicity  of  truth,  into  eafe 
and  liberty.  After  which  I  had  great  peace, 
and  my  mind  was  made  thankful  to  the 
Lord,  who  had  owned  my  labour  by  a  good 
degree  of  his  prefence  and  power. 

Being  now  fully  clear,  and  a  parTage  of- 
fering, on  the  fecond  of  the  fifth  month  we 
took  leave  of  our  friends,  and  landed  the 
fame  day  in  the  evening  at  Seconnet,  and  on 
feventh  day  Samuel  Hopwood  and  I  went  to 
the  quarterly-meeting  at  Sandwich,  and 
were  at  their  firft  day  meeting  alfo :  after 
which  I  went  back  to  Seconnet,  and  had  a 
meeting  at  Benjamin  Boreman's,  then  re- 
turned to  Sandwich,  where  I  again  met  Sa- 
muel Hopwood,  and  on  third  day  we  had  a 
meeting  at  Yarmouth ;  and  returning  to 
Humphry  Wady's,  we  from  thence  went  to- 
wards 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN,     73 

wards  Bofton,  taking  a  meeting  with  friends 
at  Pembrook;  reached  that  town  on  iixth 
day,  and  attended  their  morning  and  after- 
noon meetings  on  firft  day,  alfo  one  at  a 
friend's  houfe  in  the  evening.  J  have  here 
little  to  remark,  fave  that  religion  feems  to 
be  at  a  low  ebb.  From  Bofton  I  went  to 
Lynn,  but  Samuel  Hopwood  returned  to- 
wards Rhode-Ifland.  I  had  a  meeting  at 
Lynn,  alfo  at  Salem,  Newberry,  and  Dover, 
being  the  monthly-meeting.  The  next  day 
at  Cachecy,  and  in  the  afternoon  again  at 
Dover,  at  the  burial  of  Mary  Whitehoufe, 
who  was  ninety-five  years  of  age;  and  on 
fecond  day  morning  I  was  fecretly  drawn  to 
have  a  meeting  over  the  river  on  the  Kettery 
more,  among  friends,  which  was  fatisfactory 
to  myfelf  and  them,  there  being  a  tender 
people  there.  On  third  day  morning,  as  I 
lay  in  bed,  I  felt  my  mind  drawn  towards 
the  north-weft,  which  was  an  exercife  to 
me ;  for  I  had  before  thought  myfelf  at  li- 
berty to  return  towards  Bofton.  I  arofe 
about  fun-rife,  and  afked  the  friend  where 
I  lodged,  whether  any  friends  lived  at  a  dif- 
tance  on  that  quarter ;  for  that  I  had  a  draft 
that  way  ?  He  anfwered  no ;  and  afked  how 
far  I  thought  to  go.  I  told  him  it  did  nof 
feem  to  me  to  be  more  than  ten  miles.  He 
faid  there  was  a  people  about  eight  miles 
diftant,  which  he  fuppofed  was  the  place  to 
which  I  felt  the  draft.  I  defired  hinv  to 
fend  a  lad  with  a  few  lines  to  fome  perfon 

that 


74      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

that  he  knew,  to  inform  them  that  a  ftranger 
would  be  glad  to  have  a  meeting  among 
them  at  the  eleventh  hour  of  that  day,  if 
they  were  free  to  grant  it;  which  he  did, 
and  with  his  wife  went  with  me  :  fo  that 
we  got  to  the  place  near  the  time  propofed, 
and  found  a  considerable  gathering  of  peo- 
ple, that  I  wondered  how  it  could  be  in  fo 
{hort  a  time,  not  more  than  three  hour's 
warning.  They  were  preparing  feats,  by 
laying  boards  on  blocks  in  a  pretty  large  new 
houfe,  and  foon  fat  down  in  an  orderly  man- 
ner. I  went  in  great  fear  and  inward  weak- 
nefs ;  and  at  the  light  of  fuch  a  gathering  of 
people,  and  none  of  our  profeffion  among 
them,  except  the  friend  and  his  wife  who 
accompanied  me,  and  two  others  who  joined 
us  in  the  way,  my  fpirit  was  greatly  bow- 
ed, and  my  heart  filled  with  fecret  cries  to 
the  Lord,  that  he  would  be  pleafed  to  mag- 
nify his  own  power :  and,  blefled  for  ever  be 
his  holy  name!  he  heard  my  cry,  and  fur- 
nifhed  with  wifdom  and  ftrength  to  declare  his 
word  to  the  people,  among  whom  there  were 
fome  very  tender  feekers  after  the  true  know- 
ledge of  God ;  and  the  doctrine  of  Truth 
flowed  freely  towards  them,  the  univerfality 
of  the  love  of  God  being  fet  forth,  in  op- 
pofition  to  the  common  Predeftinarian  notion 
of  election  and  reprobation.  When  the 
meeting  was  over  I  felt  an  uncommon  free- 
dom to  leave  them,  for  they  began  to  mew 
their  fatisfaction  with  the  opportunity  in 

many 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      75 

many  words.  So  fpeaking  to  the  friend  that 
went  with  me,  we  withdrew,  and  went  to 
our  horfes;  and  I  immediately  mounting, 
beheld  the  man  of  the  houfe  where  the  meet- 
ing w?.s  held  running  to  me,  who,  taking 
hold  of  the  bridle,  told  me  I  muft  not  go 
away  without  dining  with  them.  I  looked 
ftedfaftly  on  him,  and  told  him,  that  I  did 
believe  this  was  a  vifitation  for  their  good, 
but  I  was  fearful  that  they,  by  talking  too 
freely  and  too  much,  would  be  in  danger  of 
loiing  the  benefit  thereof,  and  mifs  of  the 
good  that  the  Lord  intended  for  them ;  and 
my  going  away  was  in  order  to  example 
them  to  go  home  to  their  own  houfes,  and 
turn  inward,  and  retire  to  that  of  God  in 
their  own  hearts,  which  was  the  only  way 
to  grow  in  religion.  So  I  left  him,  and 
returned  with  my  friend  Jofeph  Eaftees  and 
his  wife.  Next  day  I  was  again  at  Cachecy 
meeting,  where  Lydia  Dean,  and  her  com-, 
panion  Eliphal  Harper,  met  me;  it  was  a 
good  meeting.  From  thence  we  went  to 
Dover,  and  had  a  meeting,  and  another  the 
fame  evening  at  the  houfe  of  John  Kenny; 
and  being  clear  in  my  mind  of  thofe  parts,  I 
returned,  having  meetings  at  Hampton,  Salif- 
bury,  Aimfbury,  and  Haverhill,  at  which  laft 
place  feveral  perfons  were  aflembled  with  us, 
who  had  never  heard  the  preaching  of  any 
friend  before.  There  was  great  opennefs 
among  them,  and  we  had  a  good  meeting 
together,  for  which  I  was  thankful  to  the 

holy 


76      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

holy  author  of  all  good.  Next  day  I  again 
met  with  Lydia  Dean  and  Eliphal  Harper, 
at  Stephen  Sawyer's,  near  Newberry,  where 
we  had  a  meeting  -,  at  which  I  was  concerned 
to  fpeak  in  a  brief  manner  of  the  beginning 
of  the  reformation  from  the  errors  of  the 
church  of  Rome,  and  the  fufferings  of  the 
Proteftants,  particularly  in  England,  fome 
of  whofe  fucceflbrs  turned  perfecutors,  and 
were  very  cruel  to  thofe  whom  they  called 
Sectarians ;  amongft  whom  the  Prefbyterians 
having  fufFered  perfecution,  in  order  to  be 
eafed  therefrom,  came  into  America,  and 
fettled  in  New-England,  expecting  there  to 
enjoy  that  reafonable  right,  the  liberty  of 
their  confcience ;  and  in  this  their  eafe,  for- 
getting the  golden  rule  of  doing  to  others  as 
they  would  be  done  unto,  became,  to  their 
lafting  ignominy,  perfecutors  of  Quakers, 
fo  called,  even  to  the  death  of  feveral  of 
them.  And  I  had  to  fpeak  of  the  nature 
and  ground  of  perfecution,  and  the  great 
inconfiftency  thereof  with  Chrihuanity.  Se- 
veral of  the  Prefbyterians  were  prefent;  and 
an  ancient  man  from  Newberry,  one  of  their 
leaders,  and  an  elder  among  them,  when 
the  meeting  was  over,  defired  he  might 
fpeak  with  me.  I  being  withdrawn  into  a 
little  parlour,  friend  Sawyer  came  and  in- 
formed me,  that  the  old  man  wanted  to  be 
admitted  to  me,  to  which  I  felt  no  objec- 
tion, being  quiet  and  eafy  in  my  mind, 
though  I  expected  he  would  be  for  difput- 

ing. 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     77 

ing.  When  he  came  in,  he  let  me  know 
that  he  had  fome  obfervations  to  make  to 
me :  viz.  '  he  fuppofed  I  was  a  man  that 
(  had  read  much,  or  I  could  not  be  fo  fully 
'  acquainted  with  the  reformation,  and  that 

*  he  alfo  fuppofed  I  had  a  college  education/ 
As  to  the  laft,  I  told  him  that  I  had  never 
been  at  a  fchool,  but  about  three  months,  and 
the  man  I  went   to  being  a  weaver,  fat  in 
his  loom,  and  heard  his  fcholars  read.    That 
I  was  fo  far  from  having  a  popular  educa- 
tion, that  I  was  born  in  a  wildernefs  place, 
where  a  few  families  had  fettled  many  miles 
remote  from  other  inhabitants.     At  which, 
lifting  up  his  hands,  he  bleffed  himfelf,  and 
added,   '  Heaven  has  then  anointed  you  to 
'  preach  the  gofpel,  and  you  have  this  day 

*  preached  the  truth -,  but  I  can  affure  you, 

*  though  I  have  been  a  parifh  officer,  I  ne- 
'  ver   did  take  any  thing  from  your  friends 

*  the  Quakers,  for  I  am  againft  perfecution ; 
'  fo  God  blefs  you  with  a  good  journey/ 

The  next  day  I  had  a  meeting  at  Ipfwich, 
in  the  houfe  of  Benjamin  Hoeg,  none  pro- 
feffing  with  us  living  in  that  town,  but  him- 
felf and  family;  though  there  was  a  friendly 
man,  who,  as  I  came  late  to  the  town  the  even- 
ing before,  invited  me  to  lodge  at  his  houfe, 
of  which  I  accepted,  and  being  weary,  ilept 
well.  In  the  morning  I  heard  a  noife  of 
high  words  in  the  ftreet,  and  getting  up,  I 
opened  the  door  of  the  parlour  where  I 
lodged,  and  through  a  pafTage  into  the 

kitchen, 


78      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

kitchen,  faw  a  woman,  whom  I  took  to  be 
the  miftrefs  of  the  houfe,  and  went  toward 
her,  but,  with  a  look  of  exceeding  difplea- 
fure,  {he  immediately  {hut  the  door;  fo  I 
turned  into  my  room  again.  After  a  while 
the  landlord  came  to  me,  and  told  me  that 
he  had  been  with  the  burgefs,  who  had  given 
leave  that  a  meeting  might  be  held  in  the 
town-hall ;  but  the  prieft  and  his  two  fons 
had  fmce  been  with  the  burgefs,  and  forbad 
him,  and  that,  rather  than  difpleafe  them, 
he  had  withrawn  the  leave.  The  prieft  af- 
ferted  that  the  Quakers  were  hereticks,  and 
had  gone  about  the  town  to  forewarn  his 
hearers  againft  going  to  the  meeting,  which 
was  the  meaning  of  the  noife  I  heard  in  the 
ftreet.  I  felt  very  eafy,  and  den  red  that  he 
would  not  trouble  himfelf  any  further  than 
to  inform  them,  that  the  meeting  would  be 
held  at  the  houfe  of  Benjamin  Hoeg ;  for  I 
did  believe  that  the  railing  of  the  prieft 
would  raife  the  curiofity  of  the  people  the 
more  to  come,  and  fo  it  proved.  I  afked 
him  to  mew  me  the  way  to  the  houfe,  that 
I  might  be  amftant  in  making  provinon  for 
feats,  if occauon  required.  He  faid  I  muft  take 
breakfaft  with  him,  which  was  foon  brought 
in  by  the  woman,  who  had  {hut  the  door,  as 
before  mentioned.  I  afked  him  if  me  was  his 
wife;  he  told  me  {he  was  ;  on  which  I  arofe 
from  my  feat,  and  offered  her  my  hand,  afldng 
her  how  me  did;  but  fhe  in.  difpleafure  re- 
fufed,  and,  faying  not  a  word,  dire&ly  left  the 

room. 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     79 

room.  After  breakfafl  we  went  to  the  houfe 
where  the  meeting  was  to  be  held,  and  there 
foon  came  a  great  number  of  people,  and 
the  priefl  alfo  very  near  the  door,  where  he 
flood,  cautioning  his  hearers ;  but  feveral 
came  by  an  alley  to  the  back  door,  and 
others  feemed  little  to  regard  him ;  fo  that 
after  a  time  he  went  away;  and  through 
the  goodnefs  of  the  Lord  we  had  a  folid 
profitable  meeting:  for  I  believe  many  were 
there,  whofe  hearts  were  reached  and  tendered 
by  the  love  and  power  of  the  gofpel  of 
Chrifl,  and  among  them  I  faw  my  fcornful 
landlady.  It  feems  a  woman  whom  me  va- 
lued had  perfuaded  her  to  come  with  her. 
Before  the  meeting  ended,  I  perceived  her 
countenance  was  changed,  and  her  flout 
heart  tendered ;  and  after  it  me  came  to  me 
with  her  hufband,  and  kindly  invited  me  to 
dine  with  them ;  I  owned  their  love,  and 
defired  them  to  mind  the  truth  by  which 
they  had  been  reached.  So  in  humble  thank- 
fulnefs  of  heart  to  the  great  Author  of  all 
living  mercies,  I  left  them,  and  went  that 
night  to  Salem ;  and  tarrying  one  meeting, 
the  next  day  pafled  on  to  Marblehead,  and 
had  a  meeting  in  the  town-hall,  the  magif- 
trates  readily  granting  it,  which  was  large. 
I  had  to  fpeak  on  morality,  the  nature  and 
neceffity  thereof,  mewing  that  a  man  could 
not  be  a  true  Chriflian  without  being  a 
good  moralifl.  I  thought  they  had  need  of 
a  reformation  in  their  morals,  though  they 

profefled 


80     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

profeiTed  Chriflianity  in  a  high  manner, 
One  thing  is  worthy  of  remarking,  the  fe~ 
lecl:  men  and  officers  were  very  careful  to 
keep  the  rude  boys  and  people  that  came  to 
the  door  from  making  difturbance :  fe- 
veral  of  them  walked  to  the  door,  and  fpoke 
to  them,  and  rapped  fome  on  their  heads 
with  their  canes,  to  make  them  ftill.  The 
meeting  ended  to  fatisfaction,  without  the 
leafr  oppofition.  From  thence,  taking  a 
meeting  at  Lynn  by  the  way,  I  went  to 
Bofton,  and  was  at  their  meetings  on  firft 
day  in  the  forenoon  and  afternoon,  at  both 
which  feveral  came  that  were  not  in  profef- 
fion  with  us,  and  truth  opened  the  doctrine 
thereof  to  the  people  pretty  freely.  But  I 
was  not  eafy  to  leave  this  town  without 
having  an  opportunity  with  friends  by  thern- 
felves,  for  which  purpofe  it  v/as  held  at 
Benjamin  Bagnall's,  and  therein  I  was  deeply 
bowed  under  a  fenfe  of  the  ilate  of  eafe,  in 
which  fome  were  delighting  themfelves  in 
their  imaginary  attainments,  whilft  the  pure 
feed  lay  under  fuffering ;  but  hie/Ted  be  the 
Lord !  who  was  gracioufly  pleafed  to  endue 
with  a  fpirit  of  love  and  tender  compafTion, 
and  thereby  enabled  me  to  difcharge  myfelf 
fully,  and  I  was  releafed  from  what  had  lain 
very  heavy  upon  me  for  feveral  days.  The 
next  day  I  had  an  opportunity  with  feveral 
friends  at  Samuel  Pope's,  and  then  left  Bof- 
ton  pretty  eafy  in  my  mind,  and  went  to 
Samuel  Thayre's  at  Mendham,  who  accom- 
panied 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      81 

panied  me  the  next  day  to  Uxbridge,  where 
we  had  a  meeting  with  a  few  raw,  talka- 
tive people,  which,  through  the  goodnefs 
of  God,  was  neverthelefs  to  foine  degree  of 
fatisfa&ion.  I  returned  with  Samuel  Thayre 
to  his  houfe,  where  I  met  with  Hannah 
Jenkinfon  from  Pennfylvania,  and  we  were 
at  Mendam  meeting  together.  She  then 
went  towards  Bofton,  and  I  to  Wainfokett, 
and  Providence-Town,  and  had  a  meeting  at 
each  place ;  the  latter  of  which  was  a  poor 
meeting,  the  people  looking  for  words,  and 
not  waiting  for  the  word  of  life  in  their 
own  hearts.  From  thence  I  went  to  and 
had  a  large  and  good  meeting  at  Nefhanticut, 
the  Lord's  prefence  being  felt  to  his  own 
praife,  and  another  at  Greenwich.  Then 
proceeded  to  Smithfield  and  Taunton,  tak- 
ing a  meeting  at  each  to  fome  good  degree 
of  fatisfa&ion.  From  thence  to  Swanfey, 
Free-Town,  Rochefter,  and  Cufhnet,  having 
a  meeting  at  each  ;  at  one  of  which,  after  I 
flood  up  to  fpeak  a  few  words  in  great  fear, 
life  being  low,  and,  as  I  apprehended,  the 
feed  under  fuffering,  I  heard  a  kind  of  figh- 
ing  by  one  in  the  gallery,  which  feemed  to 
bring  death  rather  than  to  raife  life;  and 
after  I  had  fpoken  a  fentence  or  two  it  be- 
came exceedingly  burdenfome,  whereupon  it 
came  frefh  in  my  mind  to  fay,  '  Can  an 
'  Ifraelite  fing  a  true  Hebrew  fong  whilfl 
'  the  feed  is  in  captivity,  and  under  fuffer- 
*  ing?  an  attempt  of  the  kind  mews  igno- 


82      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  ranee/  at  which  there  was  a  great  filence, 
and  the  lighing  ended,  and  I  received  ftrength 
to  deliver  what  was  on  my  mind,  and  truth 
Was  felt  in  a  good  degree  to  arife.  The 
meeting  ended  well,  and  feveral  friends  ex- 
preffed  their  fatisfaction  with  the  iervice  on 
that  day.  Being  clear  of  thofe  parts,  I 
went  to  Rhode-Ifland,  and,  in  a  fenfe  of  the 
goodnefs  and  mercy  of  the  Lord,  who  had 
helped  me  in  my  travels  in  his  work,  my 
foul  worfhipped  before  him. 

On  the  twenty-fecond  of  the  fixth  month 
I  fat  with  friends  at  Newport  in  their  fore 
and  afternoon  meetings,  and  next  morning 
left  Rhode-Iiland  with  a  heavy  heart,  and 
had  a  meeting  at  South  Kingfton,  where  I 
met  with  Sufannah  Morris,  and  her  fitter 
Hannah  Hurford,  and  the  fame  day  had  a 
meeting  at  James  Parry's ;  and  the  day  fol- 
lowing we  had  one  at  Thomas  Stanton's,  in 
Weflerly,  among  a  mixed  people  of  feveral 
focieties,  to  whom  I  felt  a  flream  of  gofpel 
love ;  but  the  meeting  was  hurt  by  feveral 
appearances  of  one  prefent,  who  lived  at  no 
great  diftance.  Our  manner  of  fitting  in 
lilence  is  fo  very  different  from  the  common 
practice  of  moil  other  religious  focieties, 
that  it  is  no  marvel  if  it  mould  be  as  time 
mifpent  to  fome,  and  fill  others  with  won- 
der, which  was  the  cafe  this  day:  and  for 
want  of  a  deep  inward  attention  to  the  liv- 
ing word  of  truth,  inftead  of  inftructing  the 
people  in  the  true  way  of  worihip,  in  the 

love, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     83 

love  of  the  gofpel,  there  may  be  a  warm 
cenfuring  of  them  for  what  they  underftand 
not,  and  thereby  raife  a  diflike  in  them,  to 
the  foreclofing  of  other  fervice :  and  I  have 
ibmetimes  obferved  hurt  done  by  this  means, 
by  fome  who  appeared  in  the  impatience, 
not  having  the  weight  of  the  work  upon 
them.  Cuftom  had  taught  the  people  to 
look  for  words,  and  they  were  offended  by 
words  fpoken  not  in  feafon,  and  therefore 
not  fitly  fpoken.  I  left  this  meeting  with 
forrow  j  and  after  I  mounted  my  horfe,  the 
perfon  who  had  appeared  there  three  times 
came  to  me,  and  faid,  '  he  hoped  he  had  not 
*  hindered  my  fervice  in  it.'  I  reminded 
him  that  he  had  informed  the  people  in  that 
meeting,  their  looking  for  words  had  been 
one  reafon  why  the  Lord  had  fhut  up  the 
teflimony  of  truth  in  the  hearts  of  his  fer- 
vants,  which  I  told  him  I  did  believe  was 
not  then  the  cafe ;  but  that  his  forward  ap- 
pearances had  mudded  the  waters,  unfettled 
the  people,  and  marred  the  fervice ;  fo  we 
parted.  And  feeling  my  mind  drawn  back 
towards  Newport,  I  went  that  evening  to 
James  Congdon's,  and  the  next  day  to  New- 
port, calling  in  my  way  at  James  Parry's, 
where  I  found  Lydia  Dean,  very  lick,  me 
being  fo  far  on  her  journey  towards  home ; 
and  on  the  fifth  day  of  the  week  I  was  at 
two  fatisfa&ory  meetings  there ;  and  on  fe- 
venth  day  had  a  fmall  meeting  at  Nicholas 
Eafton's,  and  on  firft  day  two  large  good 
G  2  meet- 


84      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

meetings  at  Newport;  and  next  day  hearing 
that  Lydia  Dean  was  come  to  Samuel  Clark's, 
on    Conanicut-Ifland,    I   went  with    feveral 
others  to  fee  her,  and  me  returned  with  us 
to  Newport;  where,  after  a  very  fhort  no- 
tice, we  had  a  large  evening  meeting,  where- 
in the  Lord  was  pleafed  mercifully  to  favour 
us  with  his  immediate  prefence,  to  the  glory 
and  praife  of  his  own   eternal   name,  which 
is   worthy  for  ever !     After  attending  their 
monthly-meeting  at  Portfmouth,  finding  my 
mind  clear  and  eafy  to  proceed  homeward, 
Lydia  Dean,  Patience  Barker,  John  Eafton, 
and  rnyfelf,  fet  out  from   Newport,  taking 
leave  of  friends  in  a  tender  manner  on  both 
fides,  and  were  the  firft  day  following  at  a 
meeting  in  Wefterly,  which  was  in  a  good 
degree    fatisfactory ;    and    paffing    through 
Connecticut     to    New  -  Milford,     Oblong, 
and    Ninepartners,   had    meetings    in    each 
place.     And  having  a  great  defire  to  be  at 
our    yearly-meeting    for    Pennfylvania    and 
New-Jerfey,     to    be    held    at    Burlington, 
which  was  near  approaching,  we  pafTed  on, 
and   took   a  meeting  .at  Samuel  Field's,  to 
which  feveral  not  of  our  fociety  came,  and 
the  opportunity  was,  through  the  goodnefs  of 
the  Lord,  profitable.     We  then  proceeded  as 
faft  as    convenient,  and  reached  Burlington 
on    firft  day,    in    the    time  of   the  yearly- 
meeting,  where  many  friends  were  gathered, 
and  Michael  Lightfoot,  in  his  return  from 
Great  Britain,  with  whom  came  John  Haf- 

lam 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      85 

lam  and  Edmund  Peckover,  on  a  vifit  to 
friends  in  America.  This  meeting  was 
large  and  folid;  at  which  I  alfo  met  my 
dear  wife,  to  our  mutual  thankful  rejoic- 
ing. After  the  meetmg  I  went  home,  where 
I  found  things  as  to  the  outward  in  good 
order;  for  which  I  was  humbly  thankful 
to  the  Lord,  who  had  not  only  been  with 
me  by  his  heavenly  prefence  in  this  jour- 
ney, and  brought  me  fafe  home  to  my 
family,  but  had  fupported  them  in  my 
abfence;  bleffed  be  his  holy  name  for 
ever  ! 


CHAP. 


86      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 


CHAP.     III. 

His  viftt  to  Long- I/land — Vifit  with  others  to 
the  families  of  friends  in  Nottingham — and 
to  fame  families  in  Philadelphia,  and  to  the 
mayor  of  that  city — alfo  to  the  a/embly  of 
Pennfyhania  in  the  year  1748.  —  His  jour- 
ney \vith  Michael  Lightfoot  to  the  yearly- 
meeting  at  Weji  River  in  Maryland — and 
accompanied  by  Jofoua  Brown  to  divers 
Meetings  in  Pennfyhania  and  New-Jerfey. 
•—His  confederations  on  apprehending  it  his 
duty  to  'vijit  friends  in  Europe,  and  pro- 
ceedings in  preparing  to  enter  upon  that 
weighty  fervf'ce,  to  the  time  of  his  leav- 
ing home,  in  order  to  take  Jhipping  for 
London. 

IN  the  fpring  of  the  year  1743,  having 
drawings  in  my  mind  to  make  a  general 
vifit  to  friends  on  Long-Iiland,  I  fat  out  in 
the  third  month,  in  order  to  be  at  the  year- 
ly-meeting at  Pluming,  which  began  on  the 
iixth  day  of  the  week,  and  continued  until 
the  fecond  of  the  week  following :  it  was 
large,  and  fignally  owned  by  the  power  of 
truth  in  each  fitting.  The  publick  fervice 
in  the  miniftry  lay  moftly  on  Edmund  Peck- 
over,  who  was  there  in  his  way  to  New- 
England.  On  firft  day  I  thought  I  had  an 
engagement  to  ftand  up,  and  confiderable 
matter  before  me,  and  after  fpeaking  three 

or 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     87 

or  four  fentences,  which  came  with  weight, 
all  clofed  up,  and  I  flood  ftill  and  filent  for 
feveral  minutes,  and  faw  nothing  more,  not 
one  word  to  fpeak :  I  perceived  the  eyes  of 
mofl  of  the  people  were  upon  me,  they  as  well 
as  myfelf  expedting  more ;  but  nothing  fur- 
ther appearing,  1  fat  down,  I  think  I  may 
fay,  in  reverent  fear  and  humble  refignation  ; 
when  that  remarkable  fentence  of  Job,  chap. 
i.  21.  was  prefented  to  my  mind:  "  Naked 
"  came  I  out  of  my  mother's  womb,  and 
"  naked  mall  I  return  :  the  Lord  gave,  and 
"  the  Lord  hath  taken  away;  bleffed  be  the 
"  name  of  the  Lord :"  and  for,  I  fuppofe, 
near  a  quarter  of  an  hour  I  remained  in  a 
filent  quiet;  but  afterwards  let  in  great  rea- 
fonings  and  fear,  left  I  had  not  waited  the 
right  time  to  Hand  up,  and  fo  was  fuffered 
ta  fall  into  reproach.  For  the  adverfary, 
who  is  ever  bufy,  and  unwearied  in  his  at- 
tempts to  devour,  perfuaded  me  to  believe 
that  the  people  would  laugh  me  to  fcorn, 
and  I  might  as  well  return  home  imme- 
diately and  privately,  as  attempt  any  further 
viiit  on  the  ifland.  After  meeting  I  hid  my 
inward  exercife  and  diflrefs  as  much  as  I 
could.  When  night  came  I  lodged  with  a 
fympathizing  friend  and  experienced  elder, 
who  began  to  fpeak  encouragingly  to  me; 
but  I  faid  to  him,  that  I  hoped  he  would  not 
take  it  amifs  if  I  defired  him  to  forbear  fay- 
ing any  thing:  for  if  he  mould  fay  good 
things,  I  had  no  capacity  to  believe,  and  if 
G  4  other- 


88     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

otherwife,  I  could  not  then  understand  fo 
as  to  be  profitably  corrected  or  inftrudled, 
and  after  fome  time  fell  afleep.  When  I 
awoke,  I  remembered  that  the  fentences  I 
had  delivered  in  the  meeting  were  felf-evi- 
dent  truths,  which  could  not  be  wrefted  to 
the  difadvantage  of  friends,  or  difhonour  of 
the  caufe  of  truth,  though  they  might  look 
like  roots,  or  fomething  to  paraphrafe  upon ; 
and  although  my  ftanding  fome  time  filent 
before  I  fat  down  might  occafion  the  peo- 
ple to  think  me  a  filly  fellow,  yet  they  had 
not  caufe  to  blame  me  for  delivering  words 
without  fenfe  or  life.  Thus  I  became  very 
quiet,  and  not  much  depreffed,  and  was  fa- 
voured with  an  humble  refignation  of  mind, 
and  a  defire  that  the  Lord  would  be  pleafed 
to  magnify  his  own  name  and  truth,  and 
preferve  me  from  bringing  any  reproach 
thereon.  So  I  ventured  to  have  meetings 
appointed,  and  my  particular  friend  and  in- 
timate acquaintance  Caleb  Raper,  of  Bur- 
lington, being  at  that  meeting,  went  as 
companion  with  me,  of  whofe  company'  I 
was  glad,  he  being  a  valuable  elder.  We 
went  firft  to  Rockaway,  then  to  Jamaica, 
Sequetague,  Setakit,  Matinicock,  Cowneck, 
and  Weilbury  meetings,  and  at  moil  of  them 
I  had  good  fatisfadtion -,  the  good  prefence 
of  the  Lord,  in  whom  I  delighted  above 
all  things,  being  witneffed  to  my  comfort, 
and  I  believe  to  the  edification  and  comfort 
of  the  fincere  in  heart :  but  the  teflimony 

of 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     89 

of  truth  went  particularly  {harp  to  the  luke- 
warm profeflbrs  and  libertines  in  our  foci- 
cty.  That  humbling  time  I  had  at  Flufhing 
was  of  fingular  fervice  to  me;  being  thereby 
made  willingly  fubjecl:  to  the  Divine  open- 
ings of  truth,  and  motion  of  the  eternal 
fpirit  and  pure  word  of  life,  in  fpeaking  to 
the  feveral  ftates  of  thofe  who  were  prefent 
in  the  meetings  ;  and  life  came  into  do- 
minion, and  the  power  thereof  overfhadowed 
at  times,  to  my  humble  admiration  :  blefTed 
be  the  name  of  the  Lord,  who  is  worthy, 
for  ever  and  ever  ! 

Then  croffing  Whiteftone-Ferry,  we  had 
meetings  at  Weft-Chefter,  Memarineck, 
Rywoods,  and  Long-Reach,  which  were 
moftly  to  good  fatisfaction.  We  then  went 
to  New- York,  and  were  at  their  meeting, 
and  in  the  evening  had  a  felect  one  with 
friends,  which  gave  me  confiderable  relief, 
and  I  believe  fatisfadtion  to  them;  and  we 
were  made  thankful  together  in  the  renew- 
ings  of  the  covenant  of  life.  From  thence 
we  went  to  a  meeting  at  Newtown  on  Long- 
Ifland,  and  to  the  monthly-meeting  at  Flufh- 
ing ;  where  friends  gave  me  a  certificate  in 
return  to  that  I  brought  from  home,  in 
which  they  fignified  their  unity  with  my 
fervice  on  the  illand.  Then  taking  leave  of 
friends  in  fweetnefs  of  mind  and  inward 
peace,  being  clear  of  thofe  parts,  I  returned 
homewards,  and  went  to  the  Narrows  that 
night,  but  could  not  get  over :  next  morn- 
ing 


90     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

ing  early  crofTed  the  ferry,  when  there  was  a 
great  fwell,  occafioned  by  the  ilormy  wea- 
ther in  the  evening  and  night  before,  and 
having  now  no  wind,  were  obliged  to  row 
the  boat  over.  In  the  pafTage  I  remembered, 
that  in  croffing  this  ferry  when  coming  on 
this  vilit,  I  thought  myfelf  never  much 
poorer,  having  only  a  fecret  hope  and  truft 
in  the  holy  arm  of  power:  and  being  now 
inwardly  fenfible  of  my  own  weaknefs,  I 
had  to  acknowledge  that  I  went  not  forth 
on  this  embafly  in  my  own  will  and  ftrength ; 
and  therefore  craved  only  that  my  bleffed 
Lord  and  Matter  would  blot  out  mine  of- 
fences, and  yet  enable  me  fo  to  walk  in 
humble  obedience  the  refidue  of  my  time, 
as  to  be  favoured  with  the  anfwer  of  "  well 
"  done"  at  the  conclufion:  and  knowing  the 
nature  and  treachery  of  felf,  did  not  want 
to  be  intrufted  with  much  reward  at  prefent, 
chooling  rather  that  the  Lord,  in  his  infi- 
nite wifdom  and  mercy,  mould  deal  out  to 
me  my  daily  bread  according  to  his  own 
pleafure.  "  I  palled  over  this  Jordan  with 
"  my  ftaff,  and  now  I  am  become  two 
"  bands,"  was  the  faying  of  Jacob,  Gen. 
xxxii.  10.  As  this  faying  of  the  good  pa- 
triarch came  frefh  in  my  mind,  I  thought, 
that  although  I  could  not  fee  myfelf  much 
increafed  in  heavenly  treafure,  I  came  poor, 
and  had  only  the  ilarF  of  faith  to  lean  upon, 
yet  I  had  to  blefs  the  Lord  that  he  was  now 
pleafed  to  favour  me  with  the  fame  flarF  in 

my 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      91 

my  return,  on  the  never  failing  ftrength 
whereof  I  might  with  fafety  evermore  rely ; 
and  in  holy  refignation  I  had  to  praife  his 
worthy  name.  I  proceeded  with  my  friend 
Caleb  Raper  to  Burlington,  where  we  parted 
in  much  love  and  nearnefs,  in  which  we 
had  travelled  together.  I  reached  home 
about  wheat  harveft,  and  found  my  dear 
wife  and  family  well. 

I  went  not  much  abroad  the  refidue  of 
this  fummer,  and  the  year  following,  but 
was  careful  to  attend  our  own  and  many 
neighbouring  meetings;  alfo  monthly,  quar- 
terly, and  yearly-meetings,  in  this  and  the 
adjacent  province.  Some  bufinefs  of  a  pub- 
lick  nature,  together  with  my  own  circum- 
ftances,  necerlarily  engaged  me  for  feveral 
years  3  in  which  time,  viz.  in  the  fpring  of 
the  year  1745,  my  dear  wife  having  draw- 
ings in  her  mind  to  vifit  the  meetings  of 
friends  in  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  North 
Carolina,  obtained  a  certificate  of  the  unity 
of  friends  with  her,  to  travel  in  that  fervice 
with  Jane  Hofkins,  of  Chefter.  And  in  the 
fame  year  I  was  nominated,,  with  feveral 
other  friends,  to  viiit  the  families  belonging 
to  our  monthly-meeting,  which  being  large, 
and  many  friends  living  at  a  diftance,  it  was 
a  laborious  work,  and  not  fully  performed 
until  the  fall  of  the  year  1747,  when  ac- 
count was  given  that  the  fervice  was  per- 
fected to  a  good  degree  of  fatisfa&ion.  In 
the  winter  following  I  had  it  on  my  mind 
to  vifit  all  the  families  of  the  particular 

meet- 


92      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

meeting  of  Newark  near  Brandy  wine,  who 
feemed  to  be  in  a  declining  ffate  as  to  reli- 
gion, having  dropped  their  week-day  meet- 
ing, and  often  much  negleded  to  attend 
their  firfUday  meeting,  many  of  the  elderly 
friends  being  deceafed,  and  their  children 
almoft  turned  to  the  world,  and  united  to 
the  fpirit,  pleafures,  and  paftimes  thereof. 
My  brother  William  Brown,  and  his  wife, 
and  mine,  were  with  me  on  this  fervice, 
and  great  plainnefs  was  ufed  in  opening  to 
many  particulars  the  caufe  of  their  decleniion; 
and  as  the  love  of  truth  engaged  me  in  the  fer- 
vice, I  had  peace  and  fatisfaclion,  and  thofe 
vifited  feemed  to  receive  the  vifit  kindly. 

In  the  fpring  of  the  year  1748,  I  felt 
drawings  in  my  mind  to  vilit  fome  families 
of  friends  in  Philadelphia,  of  which  I  ac- 
quainted my  brethren  at  home  -,  and  having 
their  concurrence,  in  the  fourth  month  I 
joined  with  fome  friends  in  the  city,  who 
were  fome  time  before  appointed  to  the 
fervice,  and  we  went  in  much  love  from 
houfe  to  houfe,  the  Lord,  by  his  good  pre- 
fence,  being  with  us,  to  our  mutual  com- 
fort. And  as  I  attended  to  the  drawings  of 
truth,  I  found  a  concern  to  go  to  the  mayor 
of  the  city  (accompanied  by  my  good  friend 
Ifrael  Pemberton  the  elder,)  and  was  en- 
gaged to  lay  before  him  the  nature  of  his 
office  as  a  magiftrate,  and  exhorted  him  to 
take  care  that  he  bore  not  the  fword  in  vain, 
but  to  put  the  laws  in  execution  againft 
evil  doers,  fuch  as  drunkards,  profane  fwear- 

ers, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     93 

ers,  &c.  and  to  be,  in  his  authority,  a  ter- 
ror to  the  wicked,  and  an  encourager  of 
them  that  do  well.  He  was  loving  and  ten- 
der, and  exprefied  his  fatisfadHon  with  the 
viiit. 

While  I  was  in  the  city,  the  governor 
called  or  fummoned  the  members  of  afTem- 
bly  together,  and  in  preffing  terms  laid  be- 
fore them  the  defencelefs  ftate  of  Pennfyl- 
vania,  in  order  to  prevail  with  the  houfe 
to  grant  a  fum  of  money,  to  ftation  a  fhip 
of  force  at  Delaware  capes,  alfo  to  encou- 
rage the  building  a  battery  below  the  city, 
which  was  begun  fome  time  before  by  fub- 
fcription,  but  likely  to  be  too  heavy  for  the 
undertakers.  One  night,  as  I  lay  in  my 
bed,  it  came  very  weightily  upon  me  to  go 
to  the  houfe  of  aflembly,  and  lay  before  the 
members  thereof  the  danger  of  departing 
from  trufting  in  that  divine  arm  of  power 
which  had  hitherto  protected  the  inhabitants 
of  our  land  in  peace  and  fafety :  the  concern 
refted  on  me  feveral  days,  which  occalioned 
me  with  earneft  breathings  to  feek  the  Lord, 
that  if  this  was  a  motion  from  him,  he 
would  be  pleafed  to  direct  my  fteps  therein, 
fo  that  I  might  be  preferved  from  giving 
juft  caufe  of  offence  to  any  :  for  it  feemed 
to  be  a  very  difficult  time;  many,  even  of 
our  fociety,  declaring  their  willingnefs  that 
a  fum  of  money  mould  be  given  to  the 
king,  to  {hew  our  loyalty  to  him,  and  that 
they  were  willing  to  part  with  their  fub- 
ftance  for  his  ufe,  though,  as  a  people,  we 

had 


94     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

had  a  teftimony  to  bear  againft  all  outward 
wars  and  fightings.  I  made  no  man  privy 
to  my  concern  until  a  week  had  near  palled, 
when  one  morning  it  became  fo  heavy  upon 
me,  that  I  went  to  the  houfe  of  an  intimate 
friend,  who,  being  juft  up,  invited  me  to 
come  in,  and  as  we  fat  together,  he  had  a 
ienfe  that  fomething  of  weight  was  upon 
me,  and  afked  if  I  was  concerned  about  the 
aflembly.  Whereupon  I  afked  him,  if  he 
ever  knew  of  any  friends  going  to  the  af- 
fembly  with  a  concern  to  fpeak  to  them  ? 
he  anfwered,  nay;  adding,  *  but  I  have  of- 

*  ten  wondered  that   they  have  not ;  for  I 
'  have  underftood  that    it   was  formerly  a 
'  common  practice  for  them  to  (it  in  filence 

*  a  while,  like  folemn  worfhip,  before  they 
'  proceeded  to   do  bufinefs."     I   told  him, 
that  I  had  it  on  my  mind  to  go  to  the  houfe 
that  morning,  and  mould  be  glad  of  fuit- 
able  company.  He  directed  me  to  one  whom 
he  thought  fuch,  and  I  immediately  went  to 
him,    and   acquainted  him    with    my    con- 
cern; but  as  I  fpake,  I  felt  that  I  had  better 
go  alone,  and  therefore  told  him,  that  if  he 
did  not  feel  clear  and  eafy  to  go  with  me,  I 
advifed   him  to  flay.      He    replied,    '  Thy 
'  way  is  before  thee,  but  I  believe  I  mufl 
'  not  go.'    I  therefore  returned  to  my  friend, 
who  did  not  difcourage  me,  though  I  had 
no  company.      Being    preffed    in    mind,    I 
went  di redly   to  the    ftate-houfe,    before    I 
took  breakfaft,    and   got   there  juft   as   the 

fpeaker, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      95 

jfpeaker,  J.  K,  was  going  in.  I  beckoned 
to  him,  and  he  came  to  me.  I  told  him  I 
wanted  to  be  admitted  into  the  houfe,  for  I 
thought.  I  had  fomething  to  fay  to  them, 
which  feemed  to  me  of  importance.  He 
faid  it  was  a  critical  time,  and  they  had  a 
difficult  affair  before  them,  and  queried  whe- 
ther I  had  not  better  wait  until  the  houfe 
parted  j  and  another  member  being  near,  faid 
he  thought  it  would  be  beft,  and  lefs  liable 
to  give  offence,  for  there  were  divers  mem- 
bers not  of  our  fociety  •>  and  if  I  would 
wait  until  the  houfe  broke  up,  they  would 
inform  all  the  members  that  were  friends, 
and  did  not  doubt  they  would  be  willing  to 
give  me  an  opportunity  to  inform  them, 
what  was  on  my  mind.  I  told  them  that 
would  give  me  no  relief,  for  I  had  a  parti- 
cular defire  that  thofe  members  who  were 
not  of  our  fociety  mould  be  prefent;  believ- 
ing that  it  would  be  better  for  them  to 
hear  and  judge  for  themfelves  than  to  have 
it  at  fecond  hand,  as  it  might  be  differently 
reprefented ;  at  which  they  were  a  little 
filent.  Then  I  requefted  the  fpeaker  that 
he  would  go  in  and  inform  the  members, 
that  a  countryman  was  in  waiting,  who  had 
a  defire  to  be  admitted,  having  fomething  to 
communicate  to  them,  and  if  they  refufed, 
he  would  be  clear.  He  readily  and  affec- 
tionately anfwered  he  would,  and  foon 
brought  me  word  that  they  were  willing, 
^yhere  was  a  great  awe  over  my  mind  when 

I  went 


96      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

I  went  in,  which  I  thought  in  fome  mea- 
fure  fpread,  and  prevailed  over  the  members, 
beyond  my  expectation.  After  a  filence  of 
perhaps  ten  or  twelve  minutes,  I  felt  as 
though  all  fear  of  man  was  taken  away,  and 
my  mind  influenced  to  addrefs  them  in  fub- 
ilance  after  the  following  manner  : 

*  My  Countrymen,  and  Fellow- Subjects, 
'  Reprefentatives  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
'  this  Province. 

'  T  T  N  D  E  R  an  apprehenfion  of  the  dif- 
{_J  '  ficulties  before  you,  I  feel  a  ftrong 

'  fympathy  with  you,  and  have  to  remind 
you  of  a  jufl  and  true  faying  of  a  great 
minifter  of  Jefus  Chrift  in  his  day,  "  The 
powers  that  be  are  ordained  of  God." 
Now  if  men  in  power  and  authority,  in 
whatfoever  ftation,  would  feek  unto  God 
(who  will  be  a  fpirit  of  judgment  to  them 
that  lit  in  judgment)  for  wifdom  and 
counfel  to  act  fingly  for  him  that  ordained 
the  power,  and  permitted  them  to  be  fta- 
tioned  therein,  that  they  mould  be  his 
minifters,  fuch  will  be  a  bleffing,  under 
God,  to  themfelves  and  their  country : 
but  if  thofe  in  authority  do  fuffer  their 
own  fears,  and  the  perfuafions  of  others, 
to  prevail  with  them  to  neglect  fuch  atten- 
tion, and  fo  make  or  enact  laws,  in  order 
to  their  own  protection  and  defence  by 
carnal  weapons  and  fortifications,  fliled 

'  human 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      97 

human  prudence,  he  who  is  fuperintend- 
ant,  by  withdrawing  the  arm  of  his  pow- 
er, may  permit  thofe  evils  they  feared  to 
come  fuddenly  upon  them,  and  that  in 
his  heavy  difpleafure.  May  it  with  grati- 
tude be  ever  remembered  how  remarkably 
we  have  been  preferved  in  peace  and  tran- 
quility  for"  more  than  fifty  years !  no  inva- 
lion  by  foreign  enemies ;  and  the  treaties 
of  peace  with  the  natives,  wifely  began 
by  our  worthy  proprietor  William  Penn, 
preferved  inviolate  to  this  day. 
'  Though  you  now  reprefent,  and  ad:  for, 
a  mixed  people  of  various  denominations, 
as  to  religion,  yet  remember  the  charter  is 
the  fame  as  at  firft :  beware  therefore  of 
acting  to  opprefs  tender  confciences,  for 
there  are  many  of  the  inhabitants  whom 
you  now  reprefent,  that  ftill  hold  forth 
the  fame  religious  principles  with  their 
predecefTors,  who  were  fome  of  the  firft 
adventurers  into  this,  at  that  time  wilder- 
nefs,  land,  who  would  be  greatly  grieved 
to  fee  warlike  preparations  carried  on,  and 
encouraged  by  a  law  con  fen  ted  to  by  their 
brethren  in  profeffion,  or  others,  contrary 
to  the  charter;  ftill  confcientioufly  con- 
cluding, that  the  reverent  and  true  fear 
of  God,  with  an  humble  truft  in  his  an- 
cient arm  of  Power,  would  be  our  great- 
eft  defence  and  fafety.  And  they  who  hold 
different  principles,  and  are  fettled  in  this 
government,  can  have  no  juft  caufe  of 
H  reflec- 


9.8      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

reflection  if  warlike  meafures  are  forborn, 
becaufe  they  knew  the  charter  framed, 
and  the  peaceable  conftitution,  and  have 
ventured  themfelves  therein. 
'  We  may  obferve  by  fundry  laws  enacted 
in  parliament,  when  the  Reformation  was 
but  newly  begun  in  England,  our  mother 
country,  there  feemed  to  be  wifdom  from 
above  to  influence  their  minds.  May  you 
be  rightly  directed  at  this  time,  many  of 
whom  do  fully  believe  in  the  immediate 
influence  of  Chrift,  the  wifdom  of  God, 
which  is  truly  profitable  to  diredl !  It  is  not 
from  difrefpedt  to  the  king  or  government 
that  I  fpeak  after  this  manner,  for  I  am 
thankful  in  heart  that  the  Lord  in  mercy 
hath  vouchfafed,  that  the  throne  of  Great 
Britain  mould  be  filled  with  our  prefent 
benevolent  prince,  King  George  the  Se- 
cond; may  his  reign  be  long  and  happy!' 

I  acknowledged  their  kindnefs  in  hearing 
me  with  fo  much  patience,  and,  taking 
leave,  withdrew.  Several  members  followed 
me  out,  and  exprefTed  their  fatisfadion  in  an 
affectionate  manner  with  my  vifit;  and, 
embracing  each  other,  we  parted,  in  a 
fenfe  of  the  love  and  power  of  Chrift 
Jefus  our  Lord,  who,  with  the  Father,  is 
worthy  of  all  thankfgiving  and  praife  for 
ever  and  ever. 

After  my  fervice  in  Philadelphia  was  over, 
I  returned  home  with  peace  and  fatisfadlion, 

and 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     99 

and  went  not  much  abroad,  fave  to  our 
quarterly  and  yearly-meetings,  until  the 
fpring  following,  in  the  year  1749,  when  I 
went  with  Michael  Lightfoot  to  the  yearly- 
meeting  at  Wefl-river  in  Maryland;  in  which 
journey,  the  weather  being  hot,  and  fome 
weaknefs  of  body  attending,  it  threw  me 
into  a  ftrong  fever,  and  a  lloppage  in  my 
breaft,  that  it  was  with  fome  difficulty  I  got 
home,  and  continued  without  any  amend- 
ment a  conliderable  time  :  and  one  evening, 
as  I  was  preparing  for  bed,  an  impoflhume 
broke,  which  I  fuppofe  was  on  my  lights, 
becaufe  it  came  up  my  windpipe,  almoft 
flrangling  me  for  a  confiderable  time,  that  I 
expected  I  was  near  expiring ;  but  felt  a  re- 
fignation  in  this  trying  time  beyond  my  ex- 
pectation, which  1  took  to  be  a  great  favour 
from  the  Lord :  there  is  no  fupport  like  the 
light  of  his  countenance.  I  continued  bleed-^ 
ing  more  or  lefs  many  days,  but  gradually 
mended.  In  the  eighth  month,  being  pretty 
well  recovered,  in  much  love  I  felt  draw- 
ings in  my  mind  to  vifit  fome  meetings  in 
the  back  parts  of  Chefter,  Philadelphia,  and 
Bucks  counties,  and  part  of  New-Jerfey, 
and  laying  my  concern  before  my  friends,  had 
their  concurrence,  and  was  accompanied  by 
my  kinfman  Jofhua  Brown  through  mofl  of 
the  journey.  Our  firil  appointed  meeting 
was  at  Radnor,  in  which  truth  owned  our  fer- 
vicein  a  good  degree,  and  paffing  over  Schuyl- 
kill,  we  went  to  Plymouth,  North  Wales, 
H  z  Skippack, 


ioo     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Skippack,  and  New  Providence,  which  lafl 
meeting,  for  want  of  more  careful  notice, 
was  very  fmall  j  and  not  being  eafy  in  my 
mind,  I  had  a  fingular  freedom  to  let  them 
know  that  I  would  endeavour  to  be  at  that 
place  on  the  fecond  day  following,  and 
mould  be  glad  they  would  pleafe  to  give  full 
notice  thereof;  and  having  a  ftrong  draught 
in  my  mind  to  turn  back  to  North  Wales,  I 
went  the  fame  evening  to  Robert  Jones's  at 
Skippack,  and  next  day  to  fee  a  friend  who 
had  been  a  long  time  indifpofed,  with 
whom  we  had  a  good  opportunity,  which  I 
believe  was  of  advantage  to  the  friend, 
through  the  goodnefs  and  mercy  of  the 
bleffed  Shepherd  of  Ifrael.  I  alfo  vifited 
two  other  friends>  and  we  were  comforted 
together  in  the  renewing  of  heavenly  good- 
nefs :  and  on  firft  day  was  at  North  Wales 
meeting,  which  was  large  and  fatisfactory, 
and  at  Providence  again  on  fecond  day, 
where  friends  generally  met,  and  I  had  an 
opportunity  to  clear  myfelf  in  a  particular 
manner.  Then  went  to  Evans's  meeting, 
by  the  lide  of  Schuylkill,  and  had  a  meeting 
the  fame  evening  at  the  houfe  of  Thomas 
May,  both  which  were  to  fome  fatisfaction. 
Afterwards  went  to  Maiden-creek,  Exeter, 
and  Richmond,  and  from  thence  over  Dela- 
ware to  Kingwood,  and  vifited  the  meetings 
in  Burlington,  Gloucefter,  and  Salem  coun- 
ties, as  far  down  as  Greenwich,  and  returned 
homewards  by  Haddonfield,  from  whence, 

in 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     101 

in  my  going  down,  my  kinfman  Jofhua 
Brown  left  me,  and  went  home.  I  called 
to  vifit  Hannah  Cooper,  whofe  hufband  had 
not  long  been  dead :  me  feemed  under  afflic- 
tion of  body  and  mind.  I  felt  a  near  fym- 
pathy  with  her,  and,  though  we  did  not 
converfe  much  together,  yet  in  the  owning 
love  of  him  who  is  a  friend  to  the  afflicted, 
we  were  mutually  comforted.  She  exprefled 
her  fatisfaction  in  a  tender  manner,  faying, 
that  foon  after  I  came  her  exercife  was  light- 
ened, and  me  was  refrefhed,  in  a  fenfe  of 
the  kindnefs  of  the  Lord,  in  affording  a 
fympathy  and  inward  feeling  to  the  children 
of  his  family.  My  foul  was  humbled  in 
reverent  thankfulnefs  to  him,  the  Author  of 
all  good,  who  is  praife  worthy  for  ever. 
In  the  morning  I  had  a  paflage  over  Dela- 
ware, about  the  tenth  hour,  which,  by  rea- 
fon  of  ice,  had  not  been  paffable  for  feveral 
days  before.  Tarrying  in  Philadelphia  that 
night,  I  went  next  day  to  Derby  meeting, 
and  the  day  following  got  well  home,  and 
found  my  dear  wife  and  family  well. 

On  my  leaving  home  to  perform  this  vi- 
fit, I  felt  great  inward  weaknefs,  and  in 
going  from  meeting  to  meeting,  frequent 
humbling  baptifms  attended,  in  which  the 
prefent  ftate  of  the  church  was  feen,  and  the 
conditions  of  many  fpoken  to  in  the  love  of 
truth ;  which  made  me  often  think  that  it 
feemed  like  a  farewell  vifit,  at  leaft  for  a 
Jong  time. 

H  3  I  may 


102    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

I  may  now  make  a  remark,  which  I  hope 
will  not  be  improper  or  unprofitable.  As  I 
pa{Ted  along  in  this  viiit,  I  obferved  fome 
people  would  earneftly  prefs  me  to  go  home 
with  them,  and  would  fay  they  would  not 
take  it  kind  if  I  did  not ;  and  friends  did 
not  ufe  to  ferve  them  fo,  that  is,  pafs  by 
them  j  yet  I  thought  there  was  not  much  of 
the  innocent  fweetnefs  of  truth  to  be  felt  at 
their  houfes,  or  even  about  them.  Though 
they  would  fay,  '  Why,  thou  haft  hit  the 

*  nail  on  the  head  !  there  is  juft  fuch  people 

*  among  us    as  thou  haft  fpoken  of/    and 
feemed  to  themfelves   fafe   and  eafy,  when 
perhaps  their  religion  lay  much  in  thinking 
that  good  friends  were  familiar  with  them, 
and  thought  well  of  them.     I  alfo  took  no- 
tice of  another  fort,  who,  though  they  were 
not  fond  of  having  friends  to  go  with  them, 
would  fpeak  well  of  their  fervice,  and  deal 
it    out  liberally  to  others    in    a  cenforious 
manner,  and  not  look  on  themfelves  with  a 
true  profpect,  which  would  have  led  them 
to  fmite  on  their  own  breafts,  with  a  feel- 
Ing,    fhort   prayer,    rather    than    apprehend 
themfelves   better   than   others,    when   per- 
haps covetoufnefs  and  a  worldly  fpirit  had 
almoft  deftroyed  charity,  which  is  the  fure 
product  of  true  religion.     A  third  fort  I  be- 
held humbled  and  bowed,  whofe  words  were 
few,  and  who  would  frequently,  if  they  faid 
any  thing,  lament  the  ftate  of  the  fociety,  and 
fpeak  of  their  own  wreaknefs,  and  fear  left 

they 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    103 

they  mould  not  walk  in  the  uprightnefs  of 
truth  before  their  own  families  and  the 
church :  the  dew  retted  on  them  in  their 
humble  fituation.  I  was  thankful  in  the 
fenfe  I  had  that  there  were  fome  few  of 
thefe  in  almoft  every  meeting  -y  and  I  had  a 
firm  belief,  that  fome  among  the  youth 
were  under  the  hand  of  the  Great  Preparer 
of  men  for  his  own  work.  Thefe  children 
are  moftly  modeft,  and  diffident  of  them- 
felves,  fincerely  affectionate,  not  over  for- 
ward or  fondling,  but  lovers  of  truth  in 
heart,  to  whom  I  felt  great  nearnefs  of  fpi- 
rit,  believing  they  would  grow  in  the  root 
of  life.  1  beheld  fome  others  among  the 
youth,  whom  I  feared  had  too  great  a  de- 
light to  live  on  the  labours  of  others,  who 
neverthelefs  had  been  favoured  with  the 
reaches  of  Divine  Love,  but  for  want  of 
dwelling  deep  and  humble  with  the  pure 
witnefs  in  themfelves,  ran  out  in  the  affec- 
tionate part,  and  were  greatly  delighted  to 
hear  truth's  teftimony,  and  valued  inflru- 
ments  according  to  their  own  liking.  Thefe, 
though  they  appear  as  goodly  flowers,  for 
want  of  an  humble  abode  in  the  vine,  do 
fometimes  wither  away  as  grafs  on  the  houfe- 
top.  "  If  you  love  me,  keep  my  com- 
"  mandments,"  was  a  precept  of  our  holy 
Lord  and  Mailer.  To  keep  his  command- 
ments, we  muft  inwardly  dwell  with  his 
grace  in  our  hearts,  by  which  the  law  of 
the  fpirit  of  life  is  known  and  underftood, 
H4  by 


104     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

by  the  enlightening  and  everlafting  fure 
word  of  prophecy,  which  will  privately  in- 
terpret, and  fecretly  mew  to  every  man  his 
duty,  and  the  calling  of  God,  and  abilitate 
to  abide  therein  :  and  his  "  law  is  light," 
and  his  commandment  as  a  lamp  to  the  feet 
of  his  people  for  ever. 

As  I  fat  in  a  week  day  meeting  in  the 
winter  (1748)  which  was  held  in  a  private 
houfe,  (our  meeting-houfe  being  burnt 
fome  time  before)  I  felt  great  weaknefs  and 
poverty  attending  my  mind,  which  occa- 
lioned  a  deep  inquiry  into  the  caufej  and 
after  a  time  of  inward  waiting,  the  hum- 
bling Divine  Prefence  was  felt  in  reverent 
profound  filence,  yet  the  gentle  operation  of 
the  Divine  Power  caufed  a  fecret  inward 
trembling,  and  the  following  was  uttered  in 
a  language  intelligent  to  the  inward  man, 
'  Gather  thyfelf  from  all  the  cumbers  of 
'  the  world,  and  be  thou  weaned  from  the 
'  popularity,  love,  and  friendmip  thereof/ 
I  believed  this  to  be  the  voice  of  the  Holy 
One  of  Ifrael,  as  a  merciful  warning  to  pre- 
pare for  my  final  change,  or  to  ftand  ready 
for  fome  fervice  which  would  feparate  me 
from  temporal  bufinefs,  and  the  neareft  con- 
nections in  life ;  and  from  that  time  I  en- 
deavoured to  fettle  my  affairs,  and  contract 
my  little  bufinefs  as  well  as  I  could.  In 
the  fummer  following  I  met  with  an  unex- 
pected trial;  for  without  my  knowledge  my 
Dame  was  put  in  the  new  commimon  for 

juftices 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     105 

juftices  of  peace,  and  endeavours  were  ufed 
to  perfuade  me  to  be  qualified,  in  order  to 
aft  in  that  ftation,  and  fome  of  my  particu- 
lar friends  told  me  it  feemed  providential, 
and  they  thought  it  was  my  place  to  accept 
thereof,  as  I  might  be  helpful  by  way  of 
example  to  fome  in  the  commiffion  who 
were  friends.  For  a  fhort  time  I  was  ex- 
ceedingly ftraitened,  but  my  eye  being  fixed 
on  the  Lord  for  counfel,  it  pleafed  him  in 
great  condefcenfion  once  more  to  revive  the 
ientence  before  mentioned,  '  Gather  thyfelf 
*  from  all  the  cumbers  of  the  world,'  &c. 
which  to  me  fettled  the  point,  and  I  became 
eafy  in  mind,  and  humbly  thankful  to  my 
bleffed  Inftructor,  who  had  called  me  for 
other  fervice. 

After  my  return  home  from  the  vifit  to 
friends  in  New-Jerfey,  before  related,  I  felt 
fuch  an  inward  filence  for  about  two  or 
three  weeks,  that  I  thought  I  had  done 
with  the  world,  and  alfo  any  further  fervice 
in  the  church,  and  the  preparing  hint  was 
brought  to  my  mind,  with  thankful nefs  that 
I  had  endeavoured  in  a  good  degree  to  prac- 
tife  it.  And  one  day,  walking  alone,  I  felt 
myfelf  fo  inwardly  weak  and  feeble,  that  1 
flood  ftill,  and,  by  the  reverence  that  co- 
vered my  mind,  I  knew  that  the  hand  of 
the  Lord  was  on  me,  and  his  prefence  round 
about :  the  earth  was  filent,  and  all  flefh 
brought  into  ftillnefs,  and  light  went  forth 
with  brightnefs,  and  fhone  on  Great  Britain, 

Ireland, 


io6     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Ireland,  and  Holland,  and  my  mind  felt  the 
gentle,  yet  ftrongly  drawing  cords  of  that 
love  which  is  flronger  than  death,  which 
made  me  fay,  «  Lord !  go  before,  and 
•  ftrengthen  me,  and  I  will  follow  whither- 
'  foever  thou  leadeft.'  I  had  feen  this  jour- 
ney near  fifteen  years  in  a  very  plain  man- 
ner, and  at  times,  for  ten  years,  thought 
the  concern  fo  ftrong  upon  me,  that  I  muft 
lay  it  before  my  friends  for  their  advice,  but 
was  fecretly  retrained;  being  made  to  be- 
lieve that  an  exercife  of  that  fort  would  ri- 
pen beft  to  be  kept  quiet  in  my  own  heart, 
to  know  the  right  time,  by  no  means  defir- 
ing  to  run  without  being  fent.  To  fee  a 
thing  is  not  a  commifiion  to  do  that  thing : 
the  time  when,  and  judgment  to  know  the 
acceptable  time,  are  the  gifts  of  God.  The 
time  I  had  to  prepare  for  the  journey  was 
fliort,  and  therefore  thought  it  was  needful 
to  employ  my  time  to  the  befl  advantage ; 
and  as  I  had  a  defire  to  fee  friends  of  feveral 
particular  meetings,  namely  Bradford,  Wefl 
and  Eafl  Cain,  Uwchland,  Nantmill,  and 
Golhen,  my  fifter  Dinah  James  went  with 
me  to  thofe  meetings,  which  through  the 
goodnefs  of  tbte  Lord  were  folidly  profitable. 
We  had  alfo  a  meeting  at  Henry  Hockley's, 
near  French  Creek  Iron  works,  which  was 
to  fome  good  fatisfaclion,  and  fo  to  the 
quarterly  meeting  at  Concord  in  the  twelfth 
month,  where  I  met  my  brother,  William 
Brown,  who  queried  of  me  where  I  had 

been, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     107 

been,  and  what  I  had  been  doing.  I  told 
him,  I  had  been  doing  as  he  and  every  ho- 
neft  man  ought  to  do,  collecting  little  debts, 
and  paying  where  I  owed,  and  endeavouring 
to  fettle  my  affairs  -,  for  that  fuch  care  was 
neccfTary  when  one  expected  a  great  fum 
would-be  immediately  demanded.  In  a  few 
days  after  my  return  from  the  quarterly- 
meeting  I  laid  my  concern  before  our  pre- 
parative meeting,  in  order  that  friends  might 
have  a  month  to  weigh  and  confider  it  be- 
fore I  fpoke  for  a  certificate :  for  I  wanted 
their  feeling  concurrence  in  this  weighty 
undertaking,  firmly  believing  that  my  great 
and  good  Matter  would  not  require  any 
thing  of  me  in  which  my  dear  friends  could 
not  concur  j  and  though  while  the  power  of 
truth  was  upon  me,  I  was  made  freely  to 
give  up,  yet  now  home,  and  the  near  af- 
fection to  a  dear  wife,  only  fon,  relations 
and  friends,  were  exceedingly  quick  and  af- 
fecting; and  fomething  in  me  feemed  to 
have  a  choice,  that  my  friends  would  judge 
that  I  was  too  weakly  and  infirm  in  body, 
or  not  otherwife  qualified  for  the  fervice, 
and  if  that  mould  be  their  mind,  I  thought 
I  mould  be  clear.  In  the  interval  I  vifited 
the  neighbouring  meetings,  and  carefully 
attended  to  the  motion .  of  truth  therein : 
and  in  the  firft  month,  having  the  concur- 
rence of  the  preparative  meeting,  I  laid  my 
concern  before  the  monthly-meeting,  and 
attended  our  general  fpring-meeting  at  Phi- 
ladelphia. 


io8     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

ladelphia.  And  my  brother,  William  Brown, 
having  fpoken  for  a  certificate  on  the  like 
concern,  it  feemed  pleafant  to  think  of  crof- 
fing  the  ocean  together,  and  friends  were  for 
propofing  a  pafTage,  and  what  fhip  we  fhould 
go  in ;  but  I  felt  a  fecret  prohibition  againft 
being  any  ways  concerned  about  a  paiTage 
until  I  had  a  certificate,  and  knew  that  I 
was  fully  clear,  ib  returned  home.  And 
having  a  defire  to  fee  friends  in  York  coun- 
ty, over  Sufquehanna,  I  went  there,  ac- 
companied by  my  brother,  James  Brown, 
to  the  meetings  at  Newberry,  Warrington, 
Huntington,  and  Monallan,  which  were 
moftly  to  a  good  degree  of  fatisfa&ion ;  and 
in  my  return,  being  humble  and  low  in 
mind,  and  ruminating  on  my  European 
journey,  which  was  before  me,  my  fpirit 
feemed  to  fink,  and  my  affection  to  my  dear 
wife  and  family,  and  friends,  fo  awakened 
upon  me,  that  it  looked  to  me  impomble  to 
part  from  them  and  live ;  but  endeavouring 
to  retire,  bleffed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
the  helper  of  his  people!  by  whofe  power  a 
filence  was  known,  and  by  a  gentle,  inflruc- 
tive,  inward  voice,  my  attention  was  gained, 
and  my  mind  diverted  from  its  pain  by  the 
following  query:  '  Suppofe  thou  fhouldfl 
lend  a  valuable  thing  to  a  neighbour  of 
thine,  to  be  returned  on  demand,  and 
thou  mouldfl  favour  him  therewith  from 
time  to  time,  not  only  one  year,  but  fe- 
ven,  and  then  fhouldfl  fee  caufe  to  de~ 

'  mand, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    109 

mand  it  to  be  refigned;  wouldft  thou  not 
think   that    neighbour    ungrateful,    if  he 
did    not    refign    it    chearfully,   and   with 
thankfulnefs  and    acknowledgment    fuita- 
ble  to   thy  kindnefs?'      The    propofition 
demanded  my  aflent,  and  my  understanding 
was  fully  opened   by  the  following  applica- 
tion :   '  All   that  thou  enjoyeft  is  mine;  doft 
thou  love  thefe  things  more  than  me  ?  if 
not,  why  is  it  fo  hard  for  thee  to  refign. 
all  to  follow  me?'  which  made  me  cry, 
Lord  !  enable  me,  and  I  will  follow  thee  : 
it  is  only  by  thy  ftrength  I  can  do  it." 
And  by  the  gracious  goodnefs  of  Chrifl,  my 
great  and  good  Mailer,  I  felt  an  humble  re- 
iignation  to  his  will,  who,  being  all  things 
to  his  people,  is  worthy  to  be  followed  and 
obeyed  for  ever.     Now  I  was  led  to  believe 
this  was  the  inflrudion  of  the  bleffed  Spirit 
to  me,  and  as  I  had  much  comfort  and  fa- 
tisfadtion  thereby,  I  am  free  to  leave  it  as  a 
hint,  that  others  under  trials,  of  what  kind 
foever,  may  be  encouraged  to  look  unto  him 
for  help,  who  is  the  Lord,  mighty  to  fave, 
and  able  to  deliver  to  the  uttermoft  all  who 
iincerely  truft  in  him. 

I  returned  home,  and  my  certificate  being 
ligned  in  the  fecond  month,  attended  our 
quarterly-meeting  at  Concord  in  the  third 
month,  and  went  to  Philadelphia  to  fee  for 
a  paflage,  and  with  my  brother,  William 
Brown,  found  one  to  our  liking,  and  to  the 
£atisfacl:ion  of  friends,  which  we  alfo  va- 


lued. 


no    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

lued.  I  then  returned  home,  waiting  until 
the  fhip  was  near  ready  to  fail,  and  during 
that  time  vifited  feveral  neighbouring  meet- 
ings, taking  leave  of  my  neighbours  and 
friends.  And  on  the  firft  day  of  the  fourth 
month,  (1750)  taking  leave  of  my  dear 
wife  and  aged  mother,  I  left  home  before 
fun  rife,  and  went  to  Philadelphia  that 
night,  fpent  the  next  day  in  viiiting  fome 
of  my  acquaintance,  and  on  the  nrfl  day 
of  the  week  attended  three  meetings ;  in 
the  morning  at  the  Bank,  which  was  a  fa- 
tisfa&ory  good  meeting,  wherein  friends 
were  exhorted  to  attend  on  the  gift  of  God 
for  inftrudtion  and  ability  to  perform  every 
good  word  and  work,  and  in  the  afternoon 
and  evening  at  the  High,  or  Market-ftreet 
houfe,  which,  though  not  quite  fo  open  as 
the  other,  were  in  the  main  folid  good 
meetings. 

CHAP.     IV. 

His  vijit  to  Great  Britain,  Ireland  and 
Holland,  from  the  year  1750  to  1754, 
with  divers  obfervations  on  the  Jiate  of 
our  religious  fociety  in  the  courfe  of  bis 
travels. 

ON  the  fourth  day  of  the  fourth  month, 
(1750)  being  the  fecond  of  the  week, 
we  left  Philadelphia,  accompanied  by  feve- 
ral of  our  relations  and  friends  to  Chefter, 

and 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN,     in 

and  went  on  board  the  fhip  Carolina,  Ste- 
phen Mefnard  commander,  (bound  for  Lon- 
don) where  my  brother,  William  Brown, 
and  myfelf,  took  leave  of  them;  and  paf- 
fing  down  Delaware,  went  out  to  fea  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  fixth  of  the  fame  month, 
and  had  a  good  pafiage,  in  which  I  was  not 
fea  fick,  though  my  brother  was  moft  of 
the  time.  We  landed  at  Dover  on  the  fixth 
of  the  fifth  month,  being  juft  five  weeks 
from  the  time  I  left  my  own  houfe;  and 
we  had  to  rejoice  with  humble  thankful- 
nefs  that,  during  the  pafTage,  we  were  care- 
ful to  keep  our  meetings  in  the  great  cabin 
twice  a  week,  in  which  we  felt  the  prefence 
of  our  great  Lord  and  Mafter,  and  therein 
were  comforted.  On  the  day  we  landed  we 
had  a  meeting  at  Dover,  to  good  fatisfa6tion ; 
then  took  paffage  in  a  ftage  coach  to  Can- 
terbury the  fame  evening,  and  lodged  at 
William  Patterfon's,  who  entertained  us 
very  kindly;  refted  there  on  feventh  day, 
and  on  firft  day  fat  with  friends  in  their 
morning  and  afternoon  meetings,  to  fome 
fatisfa&ion.  Though  I  had  little  to  fay  to 
them,  I  thought  there  was  a  tender  people 
in  that  city,  and  William  Brown  had  an 
open  time.  Next  morning  taking  our  paf- 
fage in  a  ftage  coach,  we  reached  London 
the  fame  evening,  and  continued  in  and 
about  the  city  until  the  twenty-firft  of  the 
iixth  month,  in  which  time  I  wrote  divers 
letters  to  my  wife,  and  particular  friends  in 

Pennfylvania; 


ii2     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Pennfylvania;  and  was  feveral  times  at  each 
of  the  meetings  in  the  city,  in  which  I  fat 
moftly  filent,  under  a  great  exercife  of  mind 
from  a  fenfe  of  a  too  forward  miniftry, 
which  rather  difturbed  the  folemn  quiet 
thereof  than  miniftered  inftruftion  to  the 
humble  waiting  children,  (of  which  number 
I  thought  there  were  many  in  that  city) 
though  it  feemed  delightful  to  thofe  who 
loved  to  hear  words  eloquently  delivered, 
and  to  have  the  itching  ear  pleafed,  yet  who 
in  heart  were  libertines,  and  in  practice  difor- 
derly  walkers.  I  fometimes  thought,  that 
my  iilent  fitting  was  fo  ordered  for  an  exam- 
ple to  others,  for  a  more  fteady  waiting  in 
their  own  gifts,  to  Know  life  to  rife  into 
dominion  in  meetings.  My  exercife  in- 
creafed  fo,  that  my  deep  feemed  to  depart 
from  me,  and  I  remained  as  one  fealed  up, 
as  to  miniftry;  nor  had  I  freedom  to  go 
from  houfe  to  houfe  to  dine,  or  to  make 
many  acquaintance :  I  was  therefore  cenfured 
by  fome,  as  fingular  and  narrow.  At  length 
I  felt  great  enlargement  of  heart  towards 
other  focieties,  though  my  mouth  was  fhut 
towards  our  own :  and  for  a  time  it  feemed 
as  if  I  muft  go  and  have  meetings  among 
thofe  who  did  not  profefs  with  us.  And 
one .  day,  as  I  was  walking  towards  RatclifF 
fields,  for  the  air,  a  draught  of  affection 
flowed  fo  ftrong  towards  fome  in  high  fta- 
tions  in  government,  that  I  concluded,  that 
I  muft  declare  the  way  of  life  and  falvation 

through 


CJF  JOtiN  CHURCHMAN.     113 

fhrough  Chrift  Jefus  our  Lord  among  them, 
feeling  a  greater  opennefs  that  way  than  to 
friends ;  but  making  a  ftand^  I  fecretly  cried, 
'  Ah,  Lord !  what  then  will  become  of  the 
'  family  whom  thou  dreweft  me  hither  to 
*  viiit.'      Then,  after   a  little  while,    that 
charge  came  into  my  mind  very  frefh,  MaU 
x.   5,  6.  "  Go  not  into  the  way  of  theGen- 
"  tiles,  and  into  any  city  of  the  Samaritans 
f<  enter  ye  not  -y  but  go  rather  to  the  loft 
**  fheep  of  the  houfe  of  Ifrael."     Which 
brought  great   fweetnefs,  and  an  increafmg 
heart-yearning  for,  and  love  to,  the  houfhold, 
and  made  me  acknowledge,  Good  art  thou, 
O  Lord  God,  for  thy  mercies  endure  for 
ever    and   ever.     And    I   remembered  that 
Nehemiah  quietly  viewed  the  flate  of  Jeru- 
falem  by  night;  and  faw  that  if  I  had  any 
fervice  to  do  in  London,  the  time  for  it  was 
not   yet   come.     I    alfo    remembered    what 
came  into  my  mind  at  the  fecond  meeting  I 
was  in  after  my  landing,  in  which  I  had  but 
a  few  fentences  to  fpeak,    and  the  motion 
of  life  ceafed,  and  I   fat  down,   (as  I  have 
always  found  it  fafe  to  do)  and  felt  inward 
poverty   and  weaknefs,  yet  a  quiet  and  at- 
tentive  mind ;     but   my    brother,    William 
Brown,  had  good  fervice,  and  an  open  time 
among  the  people,  at  which  I  did  admire, 
and  laid  in  my  heart,  he  is   fit  to  be  fent 
abroad ;  but,  alas !  I  am  one  of  the  meaneft 
fervants  that  was  ever  fent  over  the  fea  to 
preach  the  gofpel;   when  this  gentle  cau- 
I  tion 


ii4    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

tion  came  before  me :  '  Mind  thy  own  bu- 
'  finefs,  and  be  faithful  in  thy  gift;  thou 
'  haft  a  great  jo.urney  before  thee,  and  thy 
'  ftore  is  fmall :  live,  therefore,  frugally, 
'  and  fpend  carefully,  and  covet  not  ano- 
'  ther's,  and  thou  llialt  not  want  what  is' 
'  convenient  for  thyfelf,  and  fomething  to 
'  fpare  to  the  needy/  Whereupon  I  de- 
fired,  with  an  humble  heart,  to  be  preferved 
in  patience  and  meeknefs,  becoming  a  dif- 
ciple  of  my  great  Lord  and  Mafter,  and 
therein  to  wait  for  renewed  inftruction  and 
ability,  to  labour  in  mine  own  gift  without 
repining,  however  fmall. 

In  a  few  days  I  felt  fome  opennefs  to- 
wards the  Weft  of  England,  and  informed 
my  brother,  William  Brown,  thereof,  who, 
after  a  little  paufe,  told  me  that  his  way 
opened  Eaftward.  One  fome  confideration 
of  the  matter,  we  concluded  it  was  beft 
for  each  of  us  to  mind  the  pointings  of 
truth,  though  in  fome  crofs  to  our  own 
wills ;  for  this  profpecT:  feemed  to  part  us : 
and  if  we  mould  endeavour  to  go  together 
for  a  time,  and  then  part,  fome  might  judge 
there  was  a  diflike,  or  want  of  unity  be- 
tween us,  and  on  communing  with  fome  of 
our  friends,  they  were  of  the  fame  mind. 
So  we  reiigned,  and  in  much  love  and  af- 
fection took  leave  of  each  other. 

Understanding  there  was  a  yearly-meet- 
ing to  be  held  in  Somerfetmire  for  feveral 
of  the  weftern  counties,  and  having  fome 

drawings 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     115 

drawings  to  attend  it,  I  left  London  on  the 
twenty-firfl:  of  the  iixth  month,  in  com^ 
pany  with  my  friend  John  Hunt,  at  whofc 
houfe  I  lodged,  and  John  Pemberton,  who 
came  over  fea  with  us  on  account  of  his 
health,  and  had  a  meeting  that  day  at  Staines, 
which  was  pretty  good  and  open ;.  the  next 
at  Bafingftoke,  and  fo  on  to  Salifbury  and 
Shaftibury,  the  two  laft  being  dull  meetings; 
(which  is  often  the  cafe  where. friends  are  not 
careful  to  live  near  to  truth)  and  reached  to 
Ivelchefter,  the  place  where  the  yearly* 
meeting  began,  on  feventh  day  in  the  even- 
ing, the  twenty-fifth  of  the  month.  On 
firll  day  we  had  two  meetings  in  the  town- 
hall;  and  many  people  being  there,  meet- 
ings were  held  at  the  Market-crofs  in  the 
ftreet  at  the  fame  time.  I  fat  filent  that  day. 
On  the  next  there  was  a  meeting  of  minif- 
ters  and  elders  in  the  morning,  in  which  I 
had  fome  remarks  to  make  refpecling  mi- 
niftry.  There  were  alfo  two  publick  meet- 
ings the  fame  day,  one  of  which  was  dull, 
the  other  more  open,  and  on  third  day  two 
meetings  rather  better,  when  the  yearly-meet-: 
ing  ended.  Some  meetings  being  laid  out  for 
me,  John  Hunt  returned  to  London,  but  John 
Pemberton  concluded  to  go  with  me  a  few 
days,  and  his  company  was  kindly  accepted  of 
by  me,  he  being  a  fober,  well  inclined  young 
man.  We  went  to  Ilminfter,  the  firft  appoint- 
ed meeting,  in  which  the  good  prefence  was 
witneffed  much  to  my  comfort :  for  I  faw 
I  2  that 


ii6     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

that  the  Lord  was  near,  and  helped  me  iri 
my  gift  by  opening  the  flate  of  the  meet- 
ing, blefTed  be  his  name  for  ever !  I  alfo 
had  an  evening  meeting  at  Chard,  and  next 
day  at  Yeovil,  which  was  large,  and  open 
for  doctrine.  Then  at  Sherborn,  on  the 
edge  of  Dorfetmire.  From  thence  went  to 
viiit  the  wife  and  children  of  Jonah  Thomp- 
fon,  at  Compton,  he  being  in  Pennfylvania, 
on  a  religious  vifit.  I  had  fome  good  fatif- 
faction  in  the  family,  and  tarried  there  a 
day.  Then  went  to  the  meetings  at  Long 
Sutton,  Puddimore,  Grinton,  Glaftonbury, 
Shipton-mallet,  and  Frome,  in  which  I  had 
moftly  clofe  and  plain  fervice,  yet  not  with- 
out a  degree  of  the  fweetnefs  and  power  of 
truth,  in  a  fenfe  whereof  I  was  often  made 
humbly  thankful  to  the  Lord.  Then  pro- 
ceeding to  Bath,  was  at  the  forenoon  and 
afternoon  meetings  there,  and  had  an  even- 
ing meeting  at  Caleb  Tyley'sr  which  were 
in  fome  good  degree  owned  by  truth  j  but 
there  is  a  want  of  weighty  folid  friends  in 
this  place,  which  is  much  frequented  by 
moil  forts  of  people,  on  account  of  the  wa- 
ters. From  thence  we  went  to  Bradford 
and  Pickwick  meetings;  but  not  being  clear 
at  the  firft,  I  returned,  and  had  an  evening 
meeting  there,  to  which  many  came,  and  it 
ended  to  fatis faction.  Here  I  may  note, 
that  having  a  defire  to  fee  friends  by  them- 
felves,  and  fomething  on  my  mind  in  a  clofe 
manner  to  the  fociety,  when  I  flood  up  and 

began 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    117 

began  to  fpeak,  the  houfe  was  foon  almofl 
filled  by  others,  who  would  wait  without, 
fetting  fome  one  to  watch  when  there  was 
any  thing  fpoken.  Upon  their  coming  in 
the  fubjecl:  in  my  view  clofed,  and  an  open- 
ing in  a  doctrinal  way  prefented,  and  my 
mind  turned  to  it,  and  I  believe  it  was  to 
the  fatisfaction  of  fome  feeking  people  pre- 
fent.  After  I  fat  down  a  few  minutes, 
finding  no  eafe  refpecting  my  concern  to- 
wards friends,  I  had  a  freedom  to  inform 
the  people,  that  the  publick  fervice  of  that 
meeting  was  now  over,  but  I  had  a  delire 
that  the  members  of  the  meeting  would 
ftay  a  little  while.  On  which  a  friend  went 
to  the  door,  and  when  the  others  had  gone 
out  {hut  it,  and  the  friends  moftly  kept 
their  feats,  and  in  a  little  time  the  ftate  of 
the  meeting  came  frem  before  me  again, 
and  I  had  an  opportunity  to  clear  myfelf  in 
a  very  plain  manner;  mewing  that  the  great- 
eft  enemies  to  the  truth  were  the  proieflbrs 
of  it,  who  did  not  obferve  the  inftruftions 
of  truth,  or  grace  of  God,  in  their  own 
hearts/  for  although  the  docTrine  thereof, 
when  declared  by  qualified  inftruments,  was 
clear  and  powerfully  convincing,  having  the 
love  and  fweetening  evidence  of  truth  with 
it,  reaching  the  witnefs  in  their  hearts ;  yet 
when  the  eyes  of  fuch  fo  reached  were 
turned  to  behold  the  fteps  and  conduct  of 
the  libertine  profeflbrs  among  us,  they  were 
tumbled  by  their  example,  and  fuch  were 
I  3  In 


ii8     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

an  offence  to  the  Irttle  ones,  and  their  poiVf 
tion,  by  way  of  companion,  is  hinted  at 
by  our  Lord,  when  he  fays,  Mat.  xviii.  6. 
f(  But  whofo  fhall  offen.d  one  of  thefe  little 
"  ones,  who  believe  in  me,  it  were  better 
(t  for  him  that  a  millftone  were  hanged 
"  about  his  neck,  and  that  he  were  drowned 
f<  in  the  depth  of  the  lea."  From  thence 
we  went  to  Weftbury  and  Lavington  meet- 
ings, and  to  the  quarterly-meeting  for  Wilt- 
mire,  held  at  Devizes,  which  began  on  the 
firft  day  of  the  week,  two  meetings  for  pub- 
lick  wormip,  and  one  in  the  evening  for 
miniflers  and  elders,  and  nexj:  day  for  wor- 
mip and  buiinefs ;  but  I  could  fee  no  time, 
nor  room  to  clear  myfelf  to  advantage,  for 
want  of  more  ftillnefs.  The  fervice  of 
meetings  may  be  hurt  for  want  of  filence, 
and  the  minds  of  the  people  become  too 
unfettled  to  un'derftand  and  hear  to  profit. 
In  a  fenfe  whereof  I  left  this  place,  with  an 
heavy  heart,  and  went  to  Chippenham,  Cor- 
fham,  Charlcot,  and  Melkmam  meetings;  be- 
iides  which  had  three  evening  meetings,  one  at 
Pickwick,  in  a  fchool-houfe  belonging  to 
Thomas  Bennet,  with  his  boarding  fcholars, 
and  others ;  one  at  John  Fry's,  of  Sutton  Ben- 
jar;  and  the  other  at  Samuel  Rutty's;  fome 
of  which  were  good  meetings.  Then  leav- 
ing Wiltshire, 'we  paffed  through  Bradford 
and  Bath,  and  came  to  Briftol  on  the  twen- 
ty-fecond  of  the  month,  where  I  tarried 
Until  firft  day,  the  feventh  of  the  eighth 

month, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     119 

month,  cOnftantly  attending  the'r  meetings 
as  they  came  in  courfe,  and  viiiting  feveral 
families,  as  truth  opened  my  way.  My 
mind  and  fpirit  was  bowed  very  low  in  this 
city,  under  a  fenfe  of  too  general  a  declen- 
fion  and  falling  away  from  truth,  into  pride, 
high-mindednefs,  and  the  fpirit  of  the 
world,  and  a  conformity  to  the  vain  cuftoms 
and  fafhions  thereof,  of  which  I  frequently 
made  mention  amongft  them.  I  was  at  their 
two  weeks  meeting  for  buimefs,  and  quar- 
terly-meeting for  infpecling  the  affairs  of 
truth,  and  laboured  much  to  encourage  them 
to  hold  weekly-meetings  for  minifters-  and 
elders,  in  order  to  enquire  how  meetings 
for  worfhip  were  attended  by  publick  friends, 
and  whether'  their  miniftry  was  acceptable, 
and  the  lives  and  converfations  of  minifters 
and  elders  correfpondent  with  their  doctrine 
and  profeifion ;  which  care  they  had  dropped 
for  fome  time.  I  was  at  fixteen  meetings 
in  this, city,  and  one  at  Frenchay,  and  vi- 
fited  Anthony  Purver's  boarding- fchool  at 
that  place.  And  being  eafy  to  leave  Briftol 
for  the  prefent,  we  went  to  Chewmagna,  in 
Somerfetmire j  and,  after  dining  at  John 
Hipfley's,  had  a  religious  opportunity  in  his 
family,  and  the  next  day  a  meeting  at  Portif- 
head,  an  evening  meeting  at  James  Player's; 
then. .to  Claverham,  Sidcot,  and  Mark,  fome 
of  which  were  good  meetings.  A  few  el- 
derly friends  here  live  near  truth,  and  there 
was  a  vifitation  to  the  youth,  feveral  of 
1..  •  whom 


120     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

whom  appeared  tender  and  growing  in  relir 
gion ;    though   many  profeffors  are   feeking 
after  the  gain,  love,  and  friendfhip  of  the 
world,  not  enough  confidering  that  godlinefs 
with  contentment  is  the  beftgain.  Our  next 
meeting  was  at  Bridge  water,  then  at  Taun- 
ton;  and  we  were  comforted  together  with 
friends  in  their  morning  and  afternoon  meet- 
ings.    In  the  Divine  prefence  there  is  life$ 
and   the  living  are  made  able  to  praife  the 
Lord,  who  is  worthy.     From  thence  paffing 
to  Minehead,  Milverton,  Wellington,  Spice- 
land,  Columpton,  having  a  meeting  at  each 
place,  we   came  to  Exeter,   in  Devonshire, 
and  attended  three  meetings  there  on  firit 
day,  in  each  of  which  I  had  fomething  to 
offer;  but  was  much  depreffed  under  an  ap- 
prehenfion  of  the  prevalence  of  a  deiftical 
fpirit  over  fome,  which,  with  the  indifference 
of  others  about  religion,  and  a  light  forward 
zeal  in  fome  others,  without  the  deep,  in- 
ward, baptizing  knowledge  of  truth,  occa- 
fion  the  pure  and  ever  blelfed  power  thereof 
to  be  at  a  low  ebb  in  that  city.     When  the 
children  of  the  Lord  know  him  their  Re- 
deemer  to   live  by  his   heavenly  power  in 
them,  they  know  alfo  that  thereby  they  live, 
and  feelingly  know  his  truth  and  the  pre- 
cious teftimony,  and  by  this  knowledge  are 
influenced  with  an  holy,    humble  zeal,    in 
love  and  meeknefs  to  work  in  his  vineyard 
the  church,  to  the  honour  of  God,  and  the 
edification  and  reftoration  one  of  another. 

Leaving 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     121 

Leaving  Exeter,   we  went  to  Topmam, 
and  had  a  dark,  dull  meeting ;  and  flaying 
at  a  friend's  houfe  to  dine,  one  at  the  table, 
who,  as  I  underftood,  could  not  fpare  time 
to  attend  the  meeting,  afked  me  if  I  was 
ever  in  New-England,   and  whether  I  could 
inform  him  what  fort  of  a  country  it  was : 
for,  added  he,  I  have  heard  people  fay,  that 
the  corn  (that  is  wheat)  will  not  ripen  there, 
but  is  fmitten  with  a  rotting  mildew,  which 
blafts  the  wheat  in  the  ear.     I  fuddenly  felt 
that  I  had  need  of  being  careful  in  answer- 
ing,  but  knew   not  why.     I  anfwered  with 
caution,  that  I  had  feen  wheat  in  that  coun- 
try which  looked  to  be  well  grown,  but  ia 
the  ear,  where  grain  mould  be,  there  was 
little  elfe  but  a  black  fmut,  in  form  of  a 
grain.     I  have  heard,  faid  he,  that  it  would 
bear  full,  good  wheat  formerly,   and  what 
can  how  be  the  caufe  why  it  is  blafled  3  didft 
thou   ever  hear  ?     On    which  I  related   to 
him  a  paifage  which  I  had  heard,  viz.  two 
perfons  being  in  Bofton,  had  a  curioiity  to 
lee  the  old  prifon,  from  whence  thofe  friends 
were  led  to  the  place  of  execution  who  were 
hanged   at  Bofton   for   their  religious   tefti- 
mony  and  principles ;  and  an  inhabitant  of 
the  town  going  with  them,  brought  them 
to  the  prifon  j  and  one  of  the  men  faid  to 
their  guide,  is   this   the  old  jail  where  the 
friends   lay  who  were  hanged  ?  An  old  wo- 
man, who  fat  knitting  at  the  door,  though 
jiot  fpoken  to,  anfwered,  Yes,  it  is,  and  we 

feelingly 


122     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

feelingly  know  it ;  for  a  curfe  has  been  on 
the  land  ever  fince,  fo  that  it  will  not  bear 
wheat  without  a  blafting,  and  we  are  be- 
holden to  other  colonies  for  bread.  He  re- 
plied, with  an  air  of  jefting,  1  have  heard 
fo,  but  I  believe  nothing  of  it.  I  told  him 
we  might  obferve,  that  the  Almighty  had 
fometimes  manifeired  his  difpleafure  on  a 
people  or  nation,  by  famine,  the  fword,  or 
peftilence,  for  their  tranfgremons,  if  we  had 
a  belief  in  the  facred  writings  of  the  Old 
Teftament.  He  faid  it  could  not  be,  that 
the  Almighty,  who  is  love  in  perfection, 
and  in  himfelf  infinitely  happy  for  ever, 
fhould  delight  in  feverity,  and  take  vengeance 
on  man,  the  workmanfhip  of  his  hand: 
fome,  who.  are  narrow  in  their  way  of  think- 
ing, may  believe  fuch  things,  but,  for  his 
part,  he  had  ideas  more  noble  of  the  Deity, 
than  to  believe  fuch  notions.  By  which  I 
perceived  he  was  a  Deift,  and  did  not  re- 
gard the  fcriptures,  and  that  it  would  be 
vain  to  fay  much  to  him :  having  often 
thought  it  was  very  difficult  to  fay  any  thing 
to  reacji  thofe  fort  of  low  freethinkers,  who 
exerciie  themfelves  in  the  wifdom  which  is 
from  beneath,  and  dwell  fafely  in  their  own 
imaginations  and  conceits,  whofe  communi- 
cation is  often  infectious  to  others,  and  to 
be  perceived  in  the  meetings  and  neighbour- 
hoods where  they  refide. 

From  thence  we  went  to  Bovey,  Newton- 
Bufhel,  Totnefs,  and  King's  Bridge  j  at  the 

~ 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHiMAN.    123 

laft,  after  the  morning  and  afternoon  meet- 
ings, we  had  one  in  the  evening  with 
friends  feledted,  which  was  to  fatisfadion. 
And  hearing  of  one  family  that  lived  many 
miles  from  any  meeting,  I  had  a  de- 
fire  to  fee  them,  and  went  thither.  I  let 
the  friend  know  that  I  came  there  on  pur- 
pofe  to  fee  him  and  his  family,  and  mould 
be  glad  to  have  them  come  together,  and  be 
ftill  a  little  while,  defiring  it  might  bs  foon, 
for  we  intended  to  go  that  night  to  Ply- 
mouth. He  faid  it  would  not  anfwer  them 
at  that  time,  his  children  being  employed  in 
preffing  out  cyder.  I  let  him  know  that  I 
hoped  I  mould  not  detain  them  long,  and  if 
they  lightened  the  prefs,  the  cyder  would 
not  run  over  :  but  could  not  prevail  with 
him,  though  I  informed  him  that  I  had  left 
all  my  bufinefs,  and  had  come  fome  thou- 
fands  of  miles  to  fee  my  friends  in  this  na- 
tion; and  hearing  how  remote  he  lived  from 
meeting,  had  a  particular  mind  to  fee  him. 
He  replied,  that  he  mould  be  glad  if  it  had 
fuited  them,  but  could  not  put  his  buiinefs 
by  at  that  time.  So,  with  a  heavy  heart,  I 
left  his  houfe,  and  went  to  Plymouth,  where 
we  had  a  meeting  the  next  day.  Then  to 
Germain's,  Lifcard,  Looe,  Auftil,  and  Den- 
ny's, (in  Cornwall)  at  which  laft  place  the 
people  are  moftly  employed  in  the  tin  mines, 
and  we  had  a  pretty  good  meeting,  a  vilit 
from  a  friend  being  acceptable  to  them,  and 
they  willing  to  leave  their  buiinefs,  though 

poor 


124    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

poor  people.  From  hence  we  proceeded 
pretty  direct  to  the  land's-end,  intending  to 
take  the  meetings  on  our  return,  and  were 
at  Penzance  meeting  on  fixth  day.  At  this 
meeting  my  companion,  John  Pemberton, 
fpoke  a  few  words  in  way  of  teflimony,  ten- 
der and  broken,  being  the  firil  time,  and  I 
thought  had  a  good  degree  of  the  favour  of 
truth  attending.  And  on  feventh  day  went 
to  vifit  an  ancient  friend  fick  and  bed  rid, 
near  the  land's-end,  where  formerly  there 
had  been  a  meeting,  and  returned  in  the 
evening  to  Penzance.  On  firft  day  had  a 
meeting  at  Marazion  in  the  morning,  and  at 
Penzance  in  the  evening.  We  then  turned 
eaftward,  and  attended  a  meeting  at  Fal- 
mouth,  and  five  others  in  this  county  of 
Cornwall.  Then  pafied  through  Devonmire, 
taking  a  meeting  at  Oakhampton,  and  twelve 
others  in  Somerfetmire,  fome  of  which  were 
large  and  open,  for  there  came  many  feek- 
ing  people  to  the  meetings  at  Bridgewater, 
and  I  hope  fome  of  thofe  opportunities  were, 
through  Divine  favour,  profitable  to  fome 
of  them.  And  not  being  eafy  in  my  mind 
to  leave  this  county  without  being  at  the 
quarterly-meeting  for  bufinefs,  to  be  held 
at  Glaftonbury,  I  returned  thither,  and  was 
concerned  to  lay  before  friends  the  declining 
itate  of  the  fociety  in  that  county,  and  to 
exhort  them  to  put  the  difcipline  in  prac- 
•tice,  that  the  church  might  be  cleared  from 
diforders,  which  caufed  reproach.  It  was 

thought 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHlVfAN.     12$ 

thought  by  friends  to  be  the  moft  folid  quar- 
terly meeting  which  had  been  held  in  that 
county  for  many  years.  From  thence  we 
went  to  Calne,  in  Wiltfhire,  being  about 
fifty  miles,  and  were  at  their  meeting  on 
firil  day,  the  fixteenth  of  the  tenth  month  ; 
where  we  met  our  friend  and  countryman 
Daniel  Stanton,  from  Philadelphia,  in  the 
courfe  of  his  religious  vifit,  and  were  glad 
in  each  other's  company,  though  the  meet- 
ings, both  forenoon  and  afternoon.,  were  but 
dull;  the  people  looking  for  words  were  dii- 
appointed.  The  next  day  we  went  together 
to  a  monthly-meeting  at  Chippenham.  The 
meeting  for  worfhip  was  held  in  the  meet- 
ing-houfe;  at  the  conclufion  of  which  friends 
rofe  and  went  out. '  I  afked  them  where 
they  were  going,  for  I  felt  very  uneafy;  they 
faid  to  do  the  bufinefs  of  the  meeting;  and 
feeling  a  ftrong  engagement  to  be  with  them 
while  they  tran  faded  the  affairs  of  the 
church,  I  followed  them,  though  it  rained 
very  fail.  They  went  into  a  fpacious  houfe, 
where  a  room  was  prepared  for  the  purpofe, 
and  a  good  fire.  I  fat  down  with  them, 
though  ibrely  dift relied.  They  feemed  to  do 
the  bufmefs  in  a  formal  ready  way;  I  endea- 
voured to  prefs  them  to  weightinefs  of  fpi- 
rit,  that  they  might  feel  the  rtate  of  the  fo- 
ciety,  and  the  need  there  was  to  put  the 
difcipline  in  practice,  for  religion  was  at  a 
low  ebb  in  that  county.  They  feemed  not 
to  underftand  me,  and  indeed  I  found  but 

little 


126     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

little  room  or  opennefs  to  fay  much  to  therm 
They  foon  finifhed  their  bufmefs ;  when  I 
rofe  up,  and  moved  for  going  away :  they 
informed  me,  that  friends  ftaid  to  dine  where 
the  bufmefs  was  tranfacted,  and  that  the 
friends  of  the  houfe  would  think  it  very 
ftrange  if  I  went  away  :  fo  they  told  the 
woman  that  the  friend  was  going  away.  She 
met  me  in  the  hall,  and  faid  I  muft  not  go 
before  I  took  dinner.  I  told  her  I  mould, 
for  I  had  not  freedom  to  fray  to  eat  or  drink 
in  the  houfe.  She  afked  me  why.  I  pref- 
iingly  delired  her  to  enquire  of  the  truth  in 
her  own  heart,  and  me  might  find  the  caufe; 
fo  I  went  away,  and  a  friend  followed  me 
out,  and  mewed  me  the  way  to  his  houfe, 
where  I  left  my  horfe,  and  there  I  found 
Daniel  Stanton,  and  my  companion,  John 
Pemberton,  who  went  not  to  the  meeting 
for  bufmefs.  Daniel  informed  me,  that  he 
followed  us  to  the  door,  but  could  not  go 
in ;  for  he  thought  he  felt  the  life  of  truth 
flruck  at,  or  trampled  upon  in  that  houfe, 
and  therefore  returned  to  the  other,  where 
we  had  left  our  horfes,  and  John  Pemberton 
with  him.  t  I  was  glad  that  he  had  fuch  a 
fenfe,  and  he  exprefTed  fatisfaclion  that  I 
did  not  ftay  to  dine,  fo  we  dined  together ; 
after  which  Daniel  went  weftward,  and  we 
towards  London,  taking  feveral  meetings  in 
our  way,  and  arrived  there  the  thirty-firft 
of  the  tenth  month,  and  tarried  in  the  city 
until  the  twenty-fifth  of  the  eleventh 

month. 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     127 

month.  In  the  mean  time  I  carefully  vifited 
all  the  meetings,  in  great  awfulnefs,  being 
bowed  in  fpirit  under  a  fenfe  of  a  forward 
miniftry,  and  fat  chiefly  in  filence  among 
them.  I  alfo  attended  their  meetings  for 
difcipline,  namely,  one  quarterly-meeting, 
the  monthly,  two  weeks,  fecond  day  morn- 
ing meeting,  and  meeting  for  fufferings, 
and  was  in  much  heavinefs  of  mind,  having 
a  fenle  of  a  great  neglect  in  fome  who  were 
active  members,  in  not  waiting  for  a  true 
qualification  to  act  for  the  honour  of  God 
and  edification  of  the  church.  Neverthelefs, 
there  is  a  remnant  who  are  concerned  to  feek 
his  honour,  and  to  wait  for  the  influence  of 
his  Divine  Spirit  and  Power,  to  whom  J  was, 
at  times,  concerned  to  fpeak  by  way  of  en- 
couragement. To  tranfadt  the  weighty  af- 
fairs of  the  church  in  as  light  and  eafy  a 
manner  as  men  commonly  buy  and  fell  in  a 
market,  will  always  rather  bring  death  over 
a  meeting  than  life. 

We  left  London  on  the  twenty-fixth  of 
the  eleventh  month,  and  went  to  Chelmf- 
ford,  in  EfTex,  and  the  next  day  fat  with 
friends  in  their  forenoon  and  afternoon  meet- 
ings, to  pretty  good  fatisfaction,  through 
the  goodnefs  and  power  of  the  Lord>  whofe 
prefence  was  meafurably  felt  among  us  to 
the  praife  of  his  ever  worthy  name.  Then 
taking  meetings  as  regularly  as  we  could, 
we  vifited  that  county  in  twenty-four  days, 
and  had  twenty-three  publick  meetings,  and 

fome 


128     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

fome  family  fittings.  My  fervice  for  truth 
in  this  county  was  in  a  clofe  plain  way, 
moftly  with  but  few  words  -,  for  it  often 
appeared  to  me,  that  there  was  a  greater 
deli  re  to  hear,  than  to  put  in  practice  thofe 
things  they  were  exhorted  to,  for  which  I 
often  mourned,  and  had  a  flrong  fympathy 
with  the  few  fenfible,  baptized  friends 
among  them.  For  brevity  fake  I  clofe  this 
general  account  without  further  remark. 

We  then  paffed  to  Ipfwich,  in  Suffolk, 
and  had  a  meeting  with  friends  there  to 
fome  fatisfadion  -,  there  being  a  tender  fin- 
cere  remnant  among  them.  And  taking  the 
caft  part  of  the  county,  we  had  ten  meet- 
ings, and  vifited  feveral  indifpofed  friends 
to  good  fatisfaction.  Then  went  to  Yar- 
mouth, in  Norfolk,  and  after  attending  their 
meetings  in  the  morning  and  afternoon  on 
iirft  day,  had  a  large  fatisfactory  one  the 
fame  evening,  many  of  the  people  of  the 
town  coming  to  it.  Then  going  to  Nor- 
wich, we  tarried  with  friends  there  about  a 
week,  in  which  time  I  had  four  meetings  in 
that  city,  and  one  at  Lammas,  near  it ;  and 
alfo  viiited  divers  indifpofed  friends,  and 
had  fatisfaclion  therein.  Intending  to  vifit 
all  the  meetings  in  Norfolk  county,  a  friend 
undertook  to  lay  them  out  for  me,  and 
made  a  lift  of  them,  of  which  he  gave  me 
a  copy,  and  told  me  it  was  the  way  to  take 
the  meetings  with  the  leaft  travelling :  but 
I  felt  a  ilrait  in  my  mind,  which  I  had  al- 
ways 


OF   JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    129 

ways  found  it  fafe  for  me  to  attend  to,  un- 
til I  faw  a  way  open ;  and  being  thought- 
ful about  it,  I  deiired  him  to  inform  me 
what  meeting  bore  moft  to  the  north-eaft 
from  that  place  j  he  told  me  it  was  North- 
Walfliam ;  I  deiired  him  to  begin  there,  and 
name  the  meetings  moft  regular  afterwards, 
and  I  would  tell  him  if  the  lift  felt  pleafant 
as  he  went  on.  He  then  proceeded,  and  we 
readily  fmiihed  one  that  was  eafy  to  me ; 
when  I  deiired  him  to  fet  down  the  diftances, 
as  he  had  done  in  the  other,  and,  on  com- 
paring them,  we  found  the  lail  to  be  at  leaft 
three  miles  lefs  riding.  He  feemed  to  be 
pleafed,  and  faid  it  was  not  the  ufual  way 
of  taking  thofe  meetings.  I  was  willing  to 
lay  out  nine,  but  told  him,  I  was  not  fully 
eafy  to  venture  the  giving  publick  notice 
further ;  that  perhaps  the  weather  might  be 
difficult.  He  faid  there  would  be  a  general 
meeting  in  a  few  days,  when  friends  from 
many  meetings  would  be  together,  and  likely 
to  have  full  notice  very  eafily  given  for  a 
few  meetings  further,  which  he  thought  I 
had  befl  leave  to  him.  So  we  went  forward 
to  North- Walmam,  and  had  a  fatisfaclory 
meeting,  and  taking  the  meetings  in  courfe, 
came  to  the  quarterly-meeting  of  minifters 
and  elders  at  Norwich.  The  friend  who 
laid  out  the  meetings  informed  me,  that  if 
I  had  taken  them  according  to  his  firft  lift, 
I  mould  have  interfered  with  a  publick 
friend  at  feveral,  who  was  then  on  a  vifit, 
K 


130     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

and  he  thought  there  was  a  hand  of  Provi- 
dence remarkable  in  turning  me :  for  as  we 
were  both  ftrangers,  we  mould  have  been 
ftraitened  through  a  tender  regard  to  each 
other's  fervice.  He  likewife  let  me  know, 
that  he  did  not  remember  that  their  quar- 
terly-meeting began  the  next  day  after  the 
meeting  beyond  which  I  told  him  I  was  not 
free  to  appoint  any;  and  that  having  fent 
the  lift  to  a  friend,  to  publim  at  the  general 
meeting  before  mentioned,  he  had  been 
obliged  to  attend  that  meeting  to  ftop  the 
notice  refpedling  the  few  meetings  he  talked 
of,  otherwife  I  mould  have  miffed  the 
quarterly-meeting;  and  he  thought  it  would 
teach  him  to  be  more  cautious  in  future. 
I  mention  this  occurrence  with  a  degree  of 
reverent  thankfulnefs  and  humility,  with 
no  other  view  than  to  encourage  thofe  mi- 
nifters  who  are  called  forth  to  vilit  the 
churches,  to  diligently  and  innocently  at- 
tend to  the  motion  of  truth,  which,  the 
more  we  are  humbled  and  inwardly  quiet, 
the  clearer  it  is  underftood  and  felt :  but  as 
this  is  inftruclion  for  ourfelves,  it  is  fafer 
for  us  to  treafure  it  up  in  our  own  hearts, 
than  to  make  it  too  cheap  by  talking  there- 
of to  others.  This  quarterly-meeting,  both 
in  refpect  to  publick  worfhip  and  tranfad:- 
ing  the  affairs  of  truth,  was  held  to  fatif- 
fadtion,  through  the  Lord's  favour,  who 
will  be  near  to  them  that  diligently  feek 
him,  blelTed  be  his  name  for  ever  ' 

Then 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     131 

Then  taking  Ellingham  meeting,  we  went 
to  Thetford,  and  had  a  meeting  with  friends 
there,  both  which  were  diftremng,  from  a 
fenfe  of  the  prevalence  of  a  ranting  fpirit. 
Here  it  appeared  expedient  to  lay  out  meet- 
ings for  the  enfuing  week,  in  order  that 
iuitable  notice  might  be  given ;  and  as  they 
were-  named  to  me  in  courfe  by  friends,  I 
felt  a  remarkable  defire  to  fee  the  friends  of 
one  certain  meeting  by  themfelves,  at  or 
near  the  eleventh  hour  of  the  day,  although 
quite  a  flranger  to  their  fituation,  numbers, 
or  flate.  And  a  friend  being  prefent  belong- 
ing to  that  meeting,  I  requeued  her  care 
about  it,  and  then  went  home  with  Richard 
Brewfler  to  Edmondfbury,  and  attended  the 
meetings  there  on  the  nrft  day  morning  and 
afternoon,  which  were  in  the  main  fatisfac- 
tory,  and  in  the  evening  had  a  meeting  with 
a  fick  friend.  In  this  town  there  is  a  confi- 
derable  number  of  hopeful  friends.  We 
then  went  to  Rattlefden,  Bardwell,  and 
through  Livermore  to  Brand,  the  place 
where  I  had  the  defire  to  fee  friends  by 
themfelves,  as  before  mentioned,  and  com- 
ing to  the  friend's  houfe  whofe  wife  had 
been  intrufted  with  the  notice,  I  afked  her 
if  it  was  not  time  to  go  to  the  meeting;  me 
faid,  Thou  muft  afk  my  hufband,  appearing 
to  be  diftrefled.  I  afked  where  he  was ;  me 
replied  in  his  warehoufe,  and  fent  for  him. 
He  coming  after  a  while,  I  fuppofe  about 
twelve  o'clock,  I  afked  him  the  time  of  the 
K  2  meet- 


I 


j32     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

meeting;  he  anfwered,  At  fix  in  the  evening, 
to  be  fure.  I  told  him,  that  I  had  informed 
his  wife  of  my  deiire  that  it  fhould  be  at 
eleven;  he  replied,  She  faid  fo;  but  I  thought 
it  would  be  difhonourable,  for  few  only 
would  attend  it  at  that  time ;  for  the  people 
of  that  town  were  chiefly  fuch  as  were  ob- 
liged to  do  their  day's  work,  which  would 
be  finifhed  at  fix  in  the  evening,  when  the 
houfe  would  be  nearly  full.  I  told  him  I 
did  defire  to  fee  friends  by  themfelves,  and 
fuppofed  they  could  meet  at  any  hour.  He 
granted  that  they  could  have  met  at  the 
time  propofed ;  but  fa'd,  he  was  a  man  of 
a  more  liberal  fpirit  than  to  want  to  eat  his 
morfel  alone,  but  was  defirous  his  neigh- 
bours fhould  partake  with  him;  and  thought 
it  his  duty  to  endeavour  to  inform  and  help 
thofe  whom  he  apprehended  were  backward 
or  ignorant  in  the  performanee  of  their 
duty :  and  he  faid  the  end  and  intent  of 
ministers  going  forth  was  to  publifh  the  gof- 
pel,  and  he  thought  to  the  more  the  better. 
I  let  him  know  that  it  was  neceflary  for 
thofe  who  were  called  to  the  work  of  the 
miniftry,  to  know  alfo  to  whom  they  were 
called,  or  otherwife  they  might  be  miftaken, 
and  go  north  inftead  of  fouth,  or  to  a  dif- 
ferent nation  or  country.  He  anfwered, 
that  he  believed  if  they  were  rightly  called, 
the  fpirit  would  inform  them  where  they 
were  to  go.  I  replied,  very  well ;  and  when 
they  are  come  to  the  right  place,  the  fpirit 

would 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     133 

would  let  them  know  what  they  have  to  do. 
He  faid,  I  believe  fo  too.  Whereupon  I 
told  him, -if  I  knew  the  language  of  that 
Spirit  which  called  me  from  my  native  land 
to  Old  England,  it  was  the  fame  that  in- 
clined me  to  fee  the  friends  of  that  town  by 
themfelves ;  and  afterwards,  if  I  felt  an  en- 
largement of  mind,  1  could  have  propofed  a 
publick  meeting  with  the  town's-people  in 
the  evening.  And  why  not  one  opportu- 
nity for  both,  he  queried  ;  adding,  '  for  I 
'  mould  be  willing  that  all  the  town  might 

*  hear  what  thou  canft  have  to  fay  to  us.' 
I  then  faid  to  him,  *  If  a  certain  great  per- 

*  fon,  on  whom  thy  profperity  in  all  things 
'  temporal   did  abfolutely   depend,    mould, 

*  in  Angular  kindnefs  to  thee,  fend  a  mef- 

*  fenger  to  acquaint  or  advife  thee  of  fome 
'  matter  relating  to  thyfelf,  in  thy  own  par- 
'  ticular  conduct,  in  which  thy  profperity, 

*  peace,    and    intereft   would,    without   thy 
<  immediate  care,  be  nearly  affected,  wrouldft 

*  thou  judge  it  prudent  to  fay  to  the  am- 

*  bafTador  of  fuch  a  friend,  deliver  not  thy 
'  meiTage  to  me,  until  I  call  my  neighbours 

*  and  the  people  of  the  town  to  hear  it,  and 

*  fo  expofe  thy  own  weaknefs  to  thy  difad- 

*  vantage,    without  benefit   to   thy   neigh- 

*  hours  ?    Confider  it   carefully ;    my  heart 
'  yearns   to  the  profeflbrs   of  truth  in  this 
'  town,  and  it  feems  to  me  that  my  bufinefs 
4  at  prefent  was  only  with  them;  and  as  I 

*  Cannot  have  an  opportunity,  according  to 

K  3  'my 


i34     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  my  freedom  and  defire,  I  mall  hold  myfelf 
*  excufed.'  He  anfwered,  If  nothing  but  a 
meeting  with  friends  will  do,  we  muft  fend 
them  word  to  come  together  as  foon  as 
they  can.  I  told  him  that  would  now  by 
no  means  do;  for  he  was  at  prefent  fo  chafed 
in  his  mind,  that  he  could  not  hear  to  much 
advantage.  He  then  afked  me  what  end 
would  be  anfwered  by  my  coming  there.  I 
told  him,  to  detect  fuch  heady,  unfound 
members  as  he  was,  that  thought  it  difho- 
nourable  for  a  few  friends  to  meet  together 
to  worfhip  God,  though  their  number  was 
more  than  two  or  three,  to  whom  the  pro- 
mife  was.  He  faid,  Then  what  will  become 
of  the  meeting  ?  I  let  him  know  he  mufl 
look  to  that,  who  had  without  orders  hea- 
dily  appointed  it,  and  fo  left  him,  and  went 
to  Mildenhall,  where  a  friend  told  me,  that 
he  being  at  the  meeting  aforefaid  when  pub- 
lick  notice  was  given,  that  it  was  on  this 
wife,  '  Friends  and  neighbours,  pleafe  to 

*  take  notice,  that  a  friend  from  America 
'  defires  a  publick  meeting  here  on  Wed- 

*  nefday  next,  at  fix  o'clock  in  the  even- 
'  ing,'   which  circumflance  I  did  not  know 
when  I  was  at  his  houfe.     On  the  whole  I 
had  inward  peace  in   my  obfervations  and 
conduct  to  this  man,  and  many  friends  re- 
joiced;  for  feveral  had  been  overborne  by 
him,    to  their  grief:    and  I  was  fince  in- 
formed, that  he  fomewhat  laid  the  matter 
to  heart,  and  was  often  heard  to  fay,  that 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     135 

he  would  not  ferve  any  friend  fo  again. 
After  which  we  had  many  meetings  in  this 
county,  and  paffing  into  Cambridgeshire, 
had  eight  meetings  therein  :  and  I  thought 
the  life  of  religion  was  low  in  general, 
though  there  are  a  few  tender  friends  in  fe- 
veral  places.  We  then  went  to  divers  meet- 
ings in  Huntingdonshire,  Northampton- 
Shire,  Bedfordfhire,  and  Hertfordshire,  in 
which  it  was  moftly  my  lot  to  point  out  to 
friends  the  danger  they  were  in  of  lofing  the 
pure  favour  of  truth,  for  want  of  humbly 
attending  to  the  dictates  thereof  in  their 
own  hearts,  which  had  already  occafioned  a 
dwarfimnefs  among  the  profeffors  in  thofe 
parts.  Several  friends  met  us  at  Waltham- 
Abbey  from  London,  with  whom  we  went 
to  that  city,  in  order  to  attend  the  yearly- 
meeting,  which  began  on  the  twenty-lixth, 
and  ended  on  the  fixth  day  of  the  week, 
the  thirty-first  of  the  third  month,  (1751) 
and  in  the  feveral  fittings  thereof,  both  for 
publick  worShip  and  the  tranfadtion  of  the 
aifairs  of  truth,  was  thought,  by  many,  to 
be  the  moft  weighty  and  folid  meeting  that 
had  been  known  for  many  years ;  which  was 
caufe  of  humble  rejoicing  and  deep  thank- 
fulnefs  to  many  friends,  in  that  the  Lord 
had  vpuchfafed  his  heavenly  prefence  in  wif- 
dom  and  power,  to  the  praife  of  his  facred 
name.  Several  friends  ftaying  in  the  city 
after  the  meeting  was  over,  we  had  a  large 
a.nd  fatisfaftory  one  on  the  feventh  day  of 
JC  4  the 


136     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

the  week,  and  I  tarried,  attending  divers 
meetings,  until  the  (ixth  of  the  fourth 
month ;  then  went  to  Chelmsford,  and  fat 
with  friends  in  their  morning  and  afternoon 
meetings  on  firft  day,  and  from  thence  to 
the  yearly-meeting  at  Colchcfter  -,  but  being 
taken  ill  of  a  fever,  I  was  prevented  attend- 
ing more  than  one  fitting  of  that  meeting ; 
yet  through  mercy  was  refigned,  and  had 
peace.  I  ftaid  their  meeting  in  that  town  on 
the  fifth  day  of  the  week,  and  the  next  day 
fet  forward  with  my  brother,  William 
Brown,  John  Griffith,  and  my  companion, 
in  order  to  attend  Woodbridge  yearly-meet- 
ing, which  began  on  the  feventeenth  of  the 
month ;  and  although  the  fever  had  not 
left  me,  I  was  enabled  to  attend  every  fitting 
of  it,  which  was  a  large  and  folid  meeting 
throughout,  and  friends  were  refrefhed  to- 
gether, praifed  be  the  Lord !  whofe  mercy  is 
great  to  his  people.  My  companion,  John 
Pemberton,  went  with  my  brother  to  fome 
adjacent  meetings,  but  I  ftaid  the  week  day 
meeting  in  this  town,  which  was  through  di- 
vine favour  fatisfactory.  We  met  again  at  the 
yearly-meeting  at  Norwich  in  a  few  days, 
which  concluded  to  fatisfaction,  and  friends 
were  made  truly  thankful  to  the  Lord  for 
this  additional  favour.  We  fpent  a  few  days 
longer  at  this  city,  and  attended  their 
monthly-meeting  j  after  which,  having  a 
defire  to  vifit  a  few  meetings  in  company 
with  my  brother,  William  Brown,  where 

ranterifin 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     137 

ranterifm  feemed  to  prevail,  he  having  the 
like  concern,  we  took  a  monthly-meeting 
at  Wymondham,  alfo  the  meetings  at  Matif- 
hall  and  Ellingham,  in  which  we  were  con- 
cerned to  ufe  great  plainnefs  to  clear  our- 
felves,  on  account  of  that  ranting  fpirit. 
Then  went  to  Wareham,  and  had  a  pre- 
cious meeting  with  the  few  friends  of  that 
place,  and  to  a  very  large  general  meeting  at 
Downham,  many  of  other  focieties  being 
there ;  and  it  became  my  concern  to  recite 
the  words  of  our  blefled  Lord,  John  v. 
39,  40.  "  Search  the  fcriptures ;  for  in  them 
"  ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life,  and  they 
*'  are  they  which  teftify  of  me.  And  ye 
"  will  not  come  to  me,  that  ye  might  have 
"  life."  From  whence  I  had  to  mew  them 
the  danger  of  trufting  to  information  and 
knowledge,  whether  by  reading  the  fcrip- 
tures, or  hearing  them  preached,  and  neg- 
lecting to  attend  unto  the  infpeaking  voice 
pf  Chrift  immediately  in  the  heart,  which 
js  the  only  fure  interpreter  of  the  fcriptures, 
leading  thofe  who  attend  to  his  inftruction 
in  the  fure  way  to  life  eternal.  Then  part- 
ing with  William  Brown,  we  went  to  Wif- 
bich,  and  Thornyfenn,  in  Cambridgeshire, 
and  taking  divers  meetings  in  Lincolnfhire, 
we  parTed  into  the  Eaft-riding  of  Yorkfhire, 
jn  which  we  had  twenty-four  meetings, 
and  taking  eight  in  the  county  of  Durham, 
we  came  to  Shields,  in  Northumberland, 
Newcafllej  and  Alnwick;  Abbey,  and  reached 

Kelfo, 


138     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Kelfo,  in  Scotland,  on  the  firft  of  the  fe~ 
venth  month,  where  we  met  Sufanna  Fo- 
thergill,  on  her  return  home.  We  attended 
the  morning  and  afternoon  meetings  at  Kel- 
fo, on  firit  day.  Alas!  truth  is  here  at  a 
low  ebb ;  and  feeling  my  mind  not  to  be 
clear  of  friends  in  this  place,  I  deiired  to 
have  a  felecT;  meeting  with  them,  which  Su- 
fanna and  her  companion  attended,  and  we 
had  an  opportunity  of  clearing  ourfelves  of 
friends  there,  who  had  much  fallen  from 
the  fimplicity  of  the  pure  truth,  into  the 
modes,  fafhions,  and  cuftoms  of  the  world, 
in  their  drefs,  language,  and  manners;  and 
truth  owned  our  fervice  with  a  degree  of  its 
Divine  authority ;  bleffed  be  the  Lord,  the 
God  of  Truth  !  We  then  went  to  a  meet- 
ing at  the  houfe  of  John  Chrifty,  at  Orm- 
ilon,  to  which  many  people  came,  and  be- 
haved quietly,  and  the  doctrine  of  truth 
opened^  pretty  freely  to  them.  From  thence 
to  a  meeting  at  Edinburgh,  in  which  I  had 
a  fenfe  that  filence  was  beil,  apprehending 
the  people  had  been  too  much  fed  with 
words,  After  fome  time  one  flood  up,  and 
fpake  of  the  excellence  of  refignatiori  in  mi- 
nifters  to  fpeak,  or  contentedly  to  be  filent  \ 
to  be  any  thing  or  nothing,  as  the  Lord  was 
pleafed  to  order :  but  a  fecret  diftreffing  fear 
attended  my  mind,  that  he  was  not  enough 
inwardly  engaged  to  diftinguifh  the  order 
and  motion  of  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  from 
the  bufy  imaginatipn  and  will  of  the  crea- 
ture, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     139 

ture,  unfubjected  to  the  Divine  Spirit  j  and 
I  found  a  concern  to  mew  the  nature  of  true 
refignation,  and  the  low  humble  quiet  that 
attended  the  minds  of  minifters,  or  hearers, 
who  had  come  to  the  real  knowledge  of  it ; 
the  defire  of  fuch  as  was  turned  unto  the 
Lord  only  for  heavenly  inftruction,  and  an 
inward  evidence  of  the  life  and  motion  of 
truth ;  for  want  of  which,  true  gofpel  mi- 
niflry  was  fometimes  obftructed,  and  the 
reafon  of  filence  not  fully  underftood.  Af- 
ter I  fat  down  the  fame  perfon  again  ftood 
up,  and  in  a  flow  of  words,  and  a  zealous 
tone,  faid,  that  weaknefs,  qr  the  want  of 
experience,  led  people  to  miftake  both  their 
own  and  the  condition  of  others.  As  he 
appeared  to  me  to  be  actuated  by  a  confident, 
ranting  fpirit,  my  mind  was  greatly  exer- 
cifed  after  the  meeting.  I  remained  at  this 
place  the  two  following  days,  being  detained 
by  rainy  weather,  and  attended  the  meeting 
in  the  morning  of  firft  day,  at  which  I  fat 
iilent;  but  the  fame  perfon  fpake  fome  time, 
in  words  very  encouraging  to  the  auditory, 
as  if  all  was  well  with  them,  which  tended 
to  increafe  the  exercife  of  my  mind,  having 
a  very  different  fenfe  of  the  ftate  of  the 
meeting.  I  again  attended  their  meeting  in 
the  afternoon,  when  the  fame  perfon  feemed 
as  if  he  intended  foon  to  ftand  up ;  but 
feeling  the  teftimony  of  truth  ftrong  againft 
that  forward  ranting  fpirit,  and  the  fenfe 
thereof  being  weighty  upon  me,  J  endea- 
voured 


140    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

voured  to  keep  under  it  in  patience,  and 
foon  the  concern  of  that  perfon  began  to 
diminim,  and  he  to  be  drowfy,  after  which 
J  had  a  favourable  open  time  to  clear  my 
mind  of  the  exercife  that  had  been  upon 
me. 

Next  day  we  parTed  over  the  Frith,  about 
feven  miles  broad,  landed  at  Kinghorn,  and 
rode  to  a  town  called  Cowper,  and  the  day- 
following  reached  to  the  houfe  of  one  who 
efleemed  himfelf  a  friend,  near  Montrofe, 
where  we  endeavoured  to  have  a  meeting, 
but  he  would  not  allow  it,  alledging,  that 
it  would  do  his  people  or  fervants  no  good, 
and  as  for  himfelf,  he  thought  he  knew  as 
much  of  the  truth  as  we  could  inform  him  : 
and,  indeed,  he  feemed  fo  whole  and  felf- 
righteous,  I  thought  it  would  not  avail  to 
fay  much  to  him.  We  were  informed  by  a 
perfon  v/ho  accompanied  us  a  few  miles, 
that  this  man,  in  his  younger  years,  had  a 
publick  teftimony  to  bear  for  the  truth,  but 
had  for  a  long  time  left  it  off  (as  he  worded, 
it)  and  now,  his  men  fervants  mufl  not  ap- 
proach him  with  their  heads  covered.  "  If 
"  the  light  in  you  become  darknefs,  how 
"  great  is  that  darknefs."  From  hence  we 
went  to  Ury,  the  feat  of  Robert  Barclay,, 
grandfon  to  the  Apologift,  but  had  no  meet- 
ing until  we  came  to  the  Old  Town,  nea$ 
a  mile  north  of  Aberdeen,  which  was, 
through  the  goodnefs  of  the  Lord,  fome- 
what  lengthening.  From  thence  went  to 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     141 

John  Elmflie's,  at  Old-Meldrum,  and  on 
firft  day  morning  attended  Killmuck  meet- 
ing, and  in  the  evening  one  at  Old-Mel- 
drum,  to  which  many  people  came,  and, 
through  Divine  favour,  thefe  meetings  were 
fatisfactory.  The  next  day  we  had  a  feled: 
meeting  with  friends,  of  whom  there  are 
feveral  here,  tender  and  valuable,  and  we 
parted  in  love  :  and  going  to  Kingfwells  had 
a  meeting  there  with  many  friends  and 
others,  truth  owning  the  fervice,  which 
was  caufe  of  humble  rejoicing.  Continuing 
at  and  near  Aberdeen,  we  had  a  large  meet- 
ing on  firffc  day  at  Robert  Barclay's.  Al- 
though the  defcendants  and  children  of 
friends,  who  were  as  bright  as  ftars  in  their 
day,  may  value  themfelves  on  the  worthinefs 
of  their  parents,  yet  if  they  do  not  love  and 
ferve  the  God  of  their  fathers  with  a  perfed: 
heart  and  an  upright  mind,  he  will  not  own 
them  with  his  heavenly  prefence,  but  they 
will  be  as  unfavoury  fait. 

We  then  fet  forward  on  our  return  to- 
wards England,  taking  two  meetings  in  our 
way  to  Glafgow,  where,  on  firft  day,  we 
had  alfo  two,  which  were  large,  open,  and 
fatisfadlory,  to  which  many  tender  inquiring 
people  came,  who  behaved  well,  and  in  the 
evening  of  the  fame  day,  had  another  with 
thofe  called  friends  by  themfelves,  having 
a  concern  to  lay  before  them  the  need  they 
had  to  look  to  their  ways  and  converfation, 
that  they  might  be  as  lights  and  good  ex- 
amples 


142     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

amples  among  the  people  in  that  place,  who 
were  feekers  after  the  truth,  and  not  give 
them  occafion  of  Humbling  through  an  evil 
conduct.  Then  paffing  to  Carlifle,  in. 
Cumberland,  Morehoufe,  Scoby,  Solport, 
and  Kirklington,  in  moft  of  which  meetings 
truth  feemed  to  be  profefled,  but  too  few 
had  the  life  thereof  in  poffeffion,  which 
occafions  hard  dry  meetings ;  we  rode  to 
Cornwood,  in  Northumberland,  and  lodged 
at  the  houfe  of  a  man  who  had  been  for 
feveral  years  of  a  diforderly  conduit,  and 
much  given  to  the  exceffive  ufe  of  ftrong 
drink,  until  he  had  very  much  impaired  his 
conftitution ;  but  it  pleafed  the  Lord  to 
open  his  underftanding,  and  make  him  ac- 
quainted with  his  blefled  truth,  whereby  he 
was  made  free  from  that  evil,  and  received 
ftrength  to  forfake  his  old  companions.  But 
his  joining  with  friends  was  a  great  grief  to 
his  wife,  who  informed  me,  that  through 
prejudice,  for  a  time,  me  would  rather  he 
had  continued  his  former  courfe  of  living 
than  to  become  a  Quaker,  until  obferving 
the  fweetnefs  of  his  temper,  and  the  reco- 
very of  his  health,  in  fome  degree,  with  a 
folid  and  fober  conduct,  me  was  reached, 
and  made  to  believe  in  the  power  by  which 
he  had  known  fuch  a  victory,  and  joined 
herfelf  in  the  fame  religious  profeffion : 
they  appeared  to  be  fteady  friends.  I  would 
to  God,  that  all  tipplers  and  drunkards 
would  turn  to  that  great  Prophet  which  is 

in 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     143 

in  Ifrael,  that  they  might  by  him  be  cleanfed 
from  that  leprofy  of  fin  !  We  had  a  com- 
fortable meeting  the  next  day  in  his  houfe, 
with  his  neighbours  and  fome  friends  :  and 
on  firft  day  were  at  Allandale  meeting, 
where  are  fome  folid  friends,  though  others 
much  tainted  with  a  fpirit  of  ranterifm, 
which  is  a  confident,  felf-righteous  fpirit, 
and  very  hard  to  be  won  upon.  After  hav- 
ing a  meeting  at  Aldflinmoor,  we  palled  to 
the  meetings  at  Penrith,  in  Cumberland, 
Terril,  and  Strickland,  which  is  in  a  corner 
of  Weftmoreland.  It  was  with  fome  diffi- 
culty we  had  the  meeting  at  Terril,  a  man 
of  that  place  faying,  he  thought  it  needlefs, 
or  queftioned  whether  it  would  be  to  ad- 
vantage, as  moft  of  their  members  had 
been  at  Penrith  meeting;  but  after  the  meet- 
ing he  defired  that  I  would  not  take  it  hard 
of  him  for  endeavouring  to  difcourage  me, 
owning  that  he  was  miftaken.  Whereupon 
I  cautioned  him  to  be  more  careful  in  fu- 
ture how  he  difcouraged  fuch  who  had 
come  fo  many  thoufand  miles  to  vilit  them. 
Having  meetings  at  divers  places  in  the 
week  following,  I  travelled  in  great  pain 
and  anguifh  of  mind,  from  a  fenfe  of  the 
prevalence  of  a  dark,  deiftical  fpirit  over 
many  of  the  profeflbrs  of  truth ;  of  which 
concern  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  give  me 
flrength  and  underftanding  to  clear  myfelf, 
both  in  publick  and  private.  There  is  no 
power  but  his  that  can  enable  his  fervants 

to 


THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

to  do  his  work,  and  is  over  all  the  powers 
of  Satan.  On  the  next  firft  day  we  were  at 
Holme  meeting.  In  the  forenoon  I  fat 
filent.  One  of  the  ftock  of  the  old  ranters 
was  there,  and  very  troublefome,  accufing 
many  friends,  no  doubt  falfely  -y  and  in  the 
afternoon  meeting  I  had  not  much  to  fay, 
believing  that  old  ranting  fpirit  is  rather  fed 
with  words,  and  delights  in  cofltention,  but 
found  it  my  place  to  exhort  friends  to  re- 
tire deeply  inward  in  all  their  meetings, 
humbly  waiting  to  be  admitted  into  the 
heavenly  pretence,  to  know  their  place  of 
feeding  to  be  out  of  the  reach  of  fuch  rant- 
ing fpirits  :  for  if  they  fuffered  their  own 
fpirits  to  rife  or  refent  their  ill  ufage,  the 
meeting  would  be  the  more  difquieted.  Our 
next  meetings  were  at  Allonby  and  Brough- 
ton;  from  whence  I  went  home  with  our 
friend  Chriftopher  Wilfon  to  his  houfe  at 
Grayfothen,  and  the  next  day  attended  the 
burial  of  a  young  man  at  Pardmaw  Hall,  and 
the  day  following  the  burial  of  a  young 
woman  at  the  fame  place;  both  of  which 
meetings  were  very  large  and  folid,  and  I 
hope,  through  Divine  goodnefs,  profitable 
to  many.  The  firft  day  of  the  following 
week  we  were  at  two  meetings  at  White- 
haven,  in  both  which  I  had  fome  fervice, 
under  the  influence  and  owning  of  truth. 
We  put  up  our  horfes  at  a  friend's  houfe, 
who  had  been  ufed  to  lodge  publick  friends, 
but  I  was  not  free  to  tarry  there,  being 

burthened 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     145 

burthened  with  his  conduct  in  the  manner 
of  his  entertainment,  which  was  even  to 
fuperfiuity  and  grandeur,  no  way  becoming 
the  fimplicity  of  truth.  So,  after  mewing 
my  diflike  therewith,  I  went  to  the  houfe 
of  John  Harris,  at  Highfield,  his  wife  be- 
ing with  us,  and  refled  there  a  day,  the 
weather  being  exceeding  rainy.  Then  go- 
ing to  the  meetings  at  Cockermouth,  Ifell, 
and  Grayfothen,  we  returned  to  Cocker- 
mouth,  and  had  a  meeting  with  friends  by 
themfelves,  that  is,  without  giving  publick 
notice,  which  was,  through  Divine  favour, 
to  good  fatisfadtion.  Refting  another  day 
with  our  friend  John  Harris,  we  went  to 
meetings  at  Pardmaw  Hall,  and  at  Kefwick, 
at  which  laft  I  was  concerned  to  exhort  the 
few  friends  there  to  keep  up  their  week  day 
meetings,  having  a  fear  they  were  flack  on 
that  account.  We  lodged  at  an  inn,  where 
we  had  the  company  of  fome  of  thofe 
friends,  and  in  particular  one  who  was  a 
publick  friend.  Some  of  them  faid,  if  he 
would  attend  the  week  day  meeting,  they 
believed  the  reft  of  them  would;  which 
gave  me  occafion  to  obferve  to  him,  that  he 
did  not  example  well,  and  ought  to  be  more 
careful,  as  he  had  a  publick  teftimony  to 
bear  for  truth.  He  replied,  that  he  was 
obliged  to  be  induftrious  to  fupport  his  fa- 
jnilyj  but  at  laft  confefled,  that  *  he  did 
'  not  like  to  fet  with  fo  few  friends,  for 
'  none  elfe  would  come  on  a  week  day,  and 
L  «  it 


146     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

*  it  was  very  dull  and  poor  fitting ;  and  he 
'  liked  to  fit  in  meetings  where  there  were 
'  many  afTembled,  for  then  he  had  fome- 
'  thing  to  fay;  fo  life  did  arife,  and  all  were 
'  comforted  and  edified."  By  which  it  ap- 
peared that  he  had  greater  fatisfa&ion  in 
preaching  than  in  humble  filent  waiting  to 
experience  the  worfhip  which  is  performed 
in  fpirit  and  truth,  to  edification  and  com- 
fort. I  told  him,  that  I  feared  he  was  too 
much  a  ftranger  to  pure  religion,  and  the 
nature  of  divine  worfhip. 

From  thence  we  went  to  Hawkfhead,  in 
Lancafhire,  and  had  an  evening  meeting 
there  in  a  friend's  houfe,.  and  next  day  were 
at  the  Hight  meeting,  and  then  at  Swarth- 
more,  where  George  Fox  formerly  lived, 
which  had  been  famous  for  the  profperity 
of  truth,  but  it  is  now  at  a  low  ftate  there. 
We  then  went  to  Kendal,  in  Weftmoreland, 
where  we  attended  their  two  meetings  on 
the  firft  day  of  the  week ;  and  after  taking 
fome  other  meetings  in  the  neighbourhood, 
returned  to  that  town,  in  and  about  which 
we  tarried  feveral  days,  and  vifited  more 
than  twenty  families,  and  attended  ten  pub- 
lick  meetings;  many  of  which  opportunities 
were  made  precious,  through  the  goodnefs 
and  great  condefcenfion  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour.  And  in  the  fchool  of  our  friend 
Thomas  Rebanks  I  had  an  extraordinary 
meeting;  where  many  young  folks  not  of 
our  fociety  were  reached  by  the  power  of 

truth, 


OF   JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    147 

truth,     which    was    comfortably   over   all, 
praifed  be  the  Lord  for  ever  !     In  the  courfe 
of   our   vifiting   families  here,    during  our 
filent  fitting  in  one  of  them,  my  mind  was 
much  taken  up  in  thinking  of  a  watch,  and 
the  feveral  wheels  and  movements  thereof, 
until  I  was  grieved  at  fuch  trifling  thoughts, 
as   I  efteemed  them;    when  fuddenly  there 
appeared  fomething  inftrucling  therein,  and 
I   had   a  freedom   to  fay,    the  feveral   parts 
thereof   feemed    to    reprefent    the   excellent 
inward  faculties  and  gifts  beftowed  on  man, 
and  that  though  the  wheels,  &c.  of  a  watch 
were  truly  made,  and  placed  in  their  proper 
order,  there  muft  be  a  main  fpring  to  give 
them  motion ;  fo  the  gifts  and  faculties  of 
men  muft  have  their  main  fpring  and  caufe 
of  motion  to  every  good  work,   a  zeal  to 
the  honour  of  the  Lord  their  Creator,  and  a 
fervent    holy   defire  to  anfwer  the  end  of 
their  creation :  and  as   there  is  a  regulating 
fpring  to  a  watch,  fo  alfo  there  mould  be 
the  true  knowledge  of  God  and  of  them- 
felves  experienced  in  his  light,  to  preferve 
from  going  too  faft,  knowing,  by  his  hea- 
venly  inftruction,    that   no   wifdom,    zeal, 
ftrength,    or  ability,  will  enable  to  do  the 
Lord's  work  to  his  honour  and  the  good  of 
man,  but  that  which  God  giveth :  and  in 
order  that  a  watch  may  anfwer  the  end  in- 
tended by  its  maker,  there  is  a  vifible  face, 
and  hands,  to  difcover  the  inward  motion, 
thereby  /hewing  time;   fo  it  is  needful  that  a 
L  2  man 


i48     THE  LIFE  AN  D    TRAVELS 

man  mould  be  a  co-worker  with  the  fpirit 
and  gift  of  grace  in  his  inward  part,  that 
others,  beholding  the  light  thereof,  might 
be  taught  to  glorify  God,  and  in  his  light 
fo  to  number  his  days,  and  walk  in  his  fear, 
as  to  die  in  his  favour.  As  a  zeal  for  the 
caufe  of  truth,  and  a  fear  of  falling  iliort 
of  duty,  may  at  times  prompt  man  to  rum 
on  too  faft,  it  is  needful  that  he  mould 
wait  in  humble  reverence  to  feel  the  love  of 
God,  and  the  influence  of  that  knowledge 
and  wifdom  which  is  from  above,  and  expe- 
rienced by  thofe  who  are  fpiritual,  that  the 
end  of  all  their  labour  may  be  in  the  fpirit 
of  meeknefs  to  reftore  thofe  who  are  over- 
taken in  error.  And  that  men  may  ever  dwell 
in  that  which  gives  ability  to  labour  with 
fuccefs  in  the  church  of  Chrift,  it  is  need- 
ful that  their  minds  mould  be  enclofed  in 
the  bofom  of  truth,  in  humble  retirement, 
to  be  preferved  from  the  various  tumults, 
cumbers,  cares,  and  temptations  of  the 
world,  which  would  otherwife  clog  their 
minds,  and  deprive  them  of  their  true  fpi- 
ritual fenfe  and  motion :  and  fo  in  a  watch 
it  is  needful  that  all  the  inward  parts,  which 
are  fo  curious,  mould  be  inclofed  from 
damps,  vapours,  motes,  and  duft,  otherwife 
it  would  thereby  be  deprived  of  its  motion, 
and  become  ufelefs  for  keeping  time. 

My  intent  in  this  relation  is  to  mew  the 
infinite  condefcenlion  of  him  whofe  mercy 
is  over  all  his  worksite  inftrucl:  the  chil- 
dren 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    149 

ciren  of  men,  each  as  it  were  in  his  own 
tongue,  or  language  fui table  to  his  under- 
flanding ;  the  man  being  by  trade  a  watch- 
maker, and  feemed  to  be  tenderly  reached, 
and  we  parted  in  a  degree  of  fweetnefs.  It 
was  the  Lord's  doing,  and  marvellous  to  me, 
praifed  be  his  holy  name  for  ever  ! 

Being  clear  of  Kendal,  we  took  leave  of 
friends  in  much  affection,  and  went  to  a 
general  meeting  at  Brigflatts,  in  Yorkshire, 
and  to  vifit  our  friend  Alice  Alderfon,  who 
had  been  on  a  religious  vifit  in  our  country, 
with  Margaret  Cowpland,  whom  we  had 
before  feen  at  Kendal,  where  me  lives. 
Alice  was  glad  to  fee  us,  and  we  found  her 
tender  in  fpirit,  and  ftrong  in  her  love  to 
friends.  After  attending  meetings  at  Ra- 
vonftonedale  and  Garfdale,  we  rode  to  our 
friend  John  Burton's,  who,  with  his  com- 
panion, William  Backhoufe,  had  alfo  been 
in  our  country  on  a  religious  vifit.  We  re- 
joiced to  fee  him,  and  were  comforted  by 
his  grave  converfation  and  conduct.  We 
then  went  to  a  meeting  at  Dent,  which  was 
large,  and  favoured  by  the  overshadowing 
of  truth  in  a  good  degree,  in  the  loving 
kindnefs  of  our  Lord,  who  is  worthy  of  all 
praife  for  ever  !  Then  taking  feveral  meet- 
ings in  Lancafhire,  and  tarrying  two  days 
with  our  friend  William  Backhoufe,  which 
was  an  acceptable  reft  to  us,  the  weather 
being  very  cold,  the  ways  bad,  and  we 
weary,  we  came  to-  Lancafter,  and  had  an 
L  3  opportunity 


150     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

opportunity  of  vifiting  our  friend  Lydia 
Lancafter,  who  feveral  years  paft  had  vifited 
our  country.  Her  faculties  of  mind  and 
love  to  friends  appeared  frefh  and  ftrong. 
From  thence,  attending  divers  other  meet- 
ings in  that  county,  we  went  to  our  friend 
Samuel  Fothergill's,  at  Warrington,  where 
we  continued  from  the  fecond  to  the  four- 
teenth of  the  firft  month  (new-ftile)  1752: 
he  and  Sufanna  his  wife  being  tender  and 
kindly  affectionate,  we  were  refrefhed  in 
their  company ;  having  feveral  meetings  in 
that  town  and  at  Penketh,  fome  whereof 
were  made  precious  by  the  ownings  of 
truth.  After  many  other  meetings  in  this, 
county  and  Yorkfhire,  we  reached  Rich- 
mond, and  had  a  meeting  with  friends 
there ;  and  next  morning  fet  forward  with  a 
guide  far  Mafham,  in  order  to  attend  a 
meeting  there,  of  which  friends  had  pre- 
vious notice.  .The  diftance  was  near  fixteen 
miles,  the  days  fhort,  and  roads  deep  and 
miry.  After  we  had  rode  five  or  fix  miles, 
I  defired  our  guide  to  mend  his  pace,  fear- 
ing we  mould  be  too  late :  a  little  further 
we  came  to  a  place  where  the  roads  parted, 
and  he  taking  the  left  hand  I  became  uneafy, 
and  afked  him  if  he  perfectly  knew  the 
way ;  he  faid,  he  thought  he  did :  I  let  him 
know  my  being  in  doubt  about  it,  and  de- 
fired  him  to  enquire  of  a  man  we  faw  in  a 
field  at  a  diftance,  but  he  rode  on  yet  fafter; 
when  I  told  him,  that  I  was  perfuaded  we 

had 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     151 

had  almoft  turned  our  backs  on  the  way  we 
fhould  go,  at  which  he  fmiled.  When  we 
had  gone  about  a  mile,  feeing  a  man  by 
the  way  fide  at  work,  I  afked  him  if  that 
was  the  way  to  Mafham ;  he  replied,  Nay ; 
for  you  have  left  it^  and  muft  go  back,  un- 
lefs  your  horfes  can  leap  over  ditches  very 
well,  you  may  then  fave  a  mile ;  and,  point- 
ing over  a  field,  mewed  us  a  moor,  on  the 
other  lide  whereof  our  right  road  was.  Our 
guide  fet  forward,  we  followed  with  fome 
difficulty  over  the  ditches,  and  he  rode  on  a 
gallop,  and  foon  left  us.  My  mind  inclined 
me  to  vary  from  his  courfe,  and  efpying  a 
gate,  called  to  him,  pointing  to  it,  and 
proceeded  thither,  on  which  he  turned  and 
came  up,  but  faid  he  believed  we  were 
wrong.  I  let  him  know  that  my  mind  was 
eafy  to  go  that  way,  and  in  a  while  we  came 
into  a  road  at  a  publick  houfe,  which  he 
knew  to  be  right':  fo  we  juft  reached  the 
meeting  in  time,  which,  through  divine 
favour,  was  profitable  and  edifying.  I  men- 
tion this  pafTage  with  no  other  view  than 
to  encourage  friends  to  be  inward  in  their 
minds,  and  to  regard  the  fecret  fenfe  which 
the  pure  fpirit  of  truth  fometimes  gives  on 
particular  occafions  :  for  want  of  an  inward 
ilillnefs,  and  attention  thereunto,  the  way 
is  often  mi  fled  in  more  refpedts  than  one. 

At  Mamam  we  lodged  at   the  houfe   of 

John  Kelden,  who  related  to  me  fomething 

that  palTed  between    a  knight  of  the  {hire 

L  4  and 


152     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

and  one  of  his  tenants,  a  member  of  our 
religious  lociety,  in  manner  following,  viz. 

Landlord.     So,  John,  you  are  buly. 

Tenant.  Yes;  my  landlord  loves  to  fee 
his  tenants  bufy. 

Landlord.  But,  John,  where  was  you, 
that  you  was  not  at  your  quarterly-meeting 
at  York  the  other  day  ?  I  law  mofl  of  your 
ftaunch  friends  there,  but  you  I  miffed. -f- 

Tenant.  Why,  thou  knowefl  I  have  a 
curious  landlord,  who  loves  to  fee  his  te- 
nants thrive,  and  pay  their  rent  duly,  and  I 
had  a  good  deal  in  hand  that  kept  me  at 
home. 

Landlord.  Kept  you  at  home !  You  will 
neither  thrive  nor  pay  the  better  for  neg- 
lecting your  duty,  John. 

Tenant.  Then  I  perceive  my  landlord 
was  at  quarterly-meeting.  How  didfl  thou 
like  it  ? 

Landlord.  Like  it !  I  was  at  one  meet- 
ing, and  faw  what  made  my  heart  ache. 

Tenant.     What  was  that  ? 

Landlord.  Why,  the  drefs  of  your  young 
folks  :  the  men  with  their  wigs,  and  young 
women  with  their  finery,  in  imitation  of 
fafhions.  And  I  thought  I  would  try  an- 
other meeting :  fo  next  day  I  went  again, 
and  then  I  concluded  there  was  little  differ- 
ence but  the  bare  name  between  us,  whom 

t  The  affixes  are  held  at  York  always  at  (he  time  of 
the  quarterly-meeting. 

you 

'  ;j?S 
, 


if 

OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     153 

you  call  the  world's  people,  and  fome  of 
you  ;  for  you  are  imitating  of  us  in  the  love 
and  fafhions  of  the  world  as  fail  as  you  can. 
So  that  I  faid  in  my  heart,  thefe  people  do 
want  a  Fox,  a  Penn,  and  a  Barclay  among 
them  :  fo  he  turned  from  his  tenant. 

I  thought  it  would  be  a  pity  that  the  true 
and  folid  remark  of  this  great  man  mould 
be  loft,  understanding  that  it  was  rather  ex- 
prefled  in  pity  than  derifion. 

From  Mamam  we  proceeded  to  vifit  many 
other  meetings  in  this  county,  in  the  courfe 
whereof  we  called  to  fee  good  old  John 
Richardfon,  who  was  flrong  in  fpirit,  though 
feeble  in  body,  and  nearly  blind  through 
age,  being  about  eighty-feven.  And  find- 
ing a  draught  to  vifit  friends  once  more  at 
Scarborough,  we  were  there  on  firft  day  the 
fifteenth  of  the  third  month,  and  had  peace 
in  my  own  mind,  having  done  what  I 
thought  was  my  duty.  But,  from  a  fenfe 
of  the  -  prevalence  of  pride,  which  had  oc- 
cafioned  a  great  poverty,  as  to  true  religion, 
among  the  profeflbrs  qf  truth  in  that  place, 
1  left  them  with  an  aching  heart,  and  went 
on  our  journey,  in  order  to  attend  the  quar- 
terly-meeting at  York,  taking  meetings  in 
our  way  at  Pickering,  Thornton  in  the 
Clay,  and  Hewby.  The  feveral  fittings  of 
this  quarterly-meeting  were  in  the  main  fa- 
tisfadtory  \  but  not  having  time  fully  to  clear 
myfelf,  I  did  not  leave  York  quite  eaiy.  Af- 
Jer  this,  having  meetings  at  Clifford,  Leeds, 

Gilderfome, 


i54    Tfos  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Gilderfome,  Bradford,  Rawden,  Afquith, 
Farfield,  Keighley,  Skipton,  and  Lotherf- 
dale,  we  rode  to  Settle,  and  then  to  attend 
the  quarterly- meeting  at  Lancafter,  which 
began  on  the  fifth  day  of  the  week  with  a 
meeting  of  minifters  and  elders,  and  was 
comfortable.  Next  day  was  the  meeting  for 
publick  worfhip,  and  the  difcipline,  where- 
in we  were  made  to  rejoice  together,  and 
,praife  the  name  of  the  Lord,  who  is  worthy 
for  ever !  We  went  home  with  our  friend  Wil- 
liam Backfroufe,  and  fo  to  Kendal  quarterly- 
meeting,  which  was  fatisfadlpry,  and  very 
large  ;  then  fet  out  for  the  quarterly- 
meeting  for  Cumberland,  held  at  Carlifle, 
which  began  with  a  meeting  of  minifters 
and  elders  :  next  day  were  held  two  pub- 
lick  meetings,  and  the  day  following  a  meet^ 
ing  for  the  difcipline,  which  ended  in  the 
afternoon  with  another  for  worfhip :  and 
going  home  with  Chriilopher  Wilfon,  we 
were  at  a  good  meeting  at  Pardftiaw  Hall  on 
firft  day. 

My  mind  had  been  for  fome  time  drawn 
towards  Ireland,  and  being  defirous  to  lofe 
no  time,  we  went  to  Whitehaven,  feveral 
veffels  being  there  nearly  laden  with  coals 
for  Dublin ;  but  on  viewing  the  mips,  ac- 
companied by  feveral  friends  from  Grayf- 
othen,  I  had  no  freedom  to  take  a  paflage 
in  either  of  them,  at  which  I  was  much 
ftraitened,  and  inwardly  turning  my  mind, 
Ireland  was  hid  from  my  view ;  and  going 

to 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     155 

to  the  houfe  of  a  friend,  we  fat  a  while  ftill, 
and  I  had  a  freedom  to  let  friends  know 
that  I  had  no  profpect  but  that  the  veffels 
might  go  their  voyage  with  fafety,  and  did 
not  decline  a  pafTage  on  that  account  -y  hut 
feeling  a  full  flop  in  my  mind,  had  no  free- 
dom to  proceed  any  where  at  prefent,  fave 
to  return  with  our  friends  John  and  Han- 
nah Harris  to  Highfield.  We  therefore  re- 
turned with  them,  and  attended  PardmawlHall 
monthly-meeting,  where  I  had  freedom  to 
propofe  that  friends  would  enter  on  the 
fervice  of  via" ting  families.  They  informed 
me  that  fome  years  before  they  had  nomi- 
nated friends  for  that  fervice,  but  meeting 
with  fome  difcouragement,  they  had  not 
performed  it :  and  being  about  to  turn  over 
the  book,  to  fee  who  were  then  appointed, 
confidering  it  was  a  long  time  fince,  they 
concluded  it  was  better  to  proceed  to  a  new 
choice,  but  feemed  at  a  ftand  about  naming 
friends  then.  I  had  a  fingular  freedom  to 
let  them  know,  that  although  I  was  a  Gran- 
ger, I  could  point  out  fome  who  I  believed 
would  anfwer  the  fervice,  if  they  would 
fubmit  to  it.  After  a  folid  paufe,  a  friend 
faid,  as  our  friend  has  the  matter  before 
him,  I  am  free  that  he  mould  choofe  for 
us  i  to  which  I  replied,  that  being  a  flran- 
ger  to  their  members,  one  might  be  chofen 
who  was  under  fome  impediment,  and 
therefore  it  would  be  fafer  for  the  meeting 
$0  choofe;  but  perceiving  they  were  at  a 

lofs, 


1 56     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

lofs,  I  pointed  out  a  few  friends  in  great 
fear,  with  a  fingle  eye  to  the  fenfe  which  I 
{lid  believe  truth  gave  me,  and  the  clerk 
took  their  names.  A  friend  faid  he  believed 
it  was  the  truth  which  had  made  the  choice. 
I  then  mentioned,  that  if  they  could  foon 
enter  upon  the  fervice,  I  found  a  freedom  to 
accompany  them  therein,  if  friends  had 
unity  therewith,  which  feveral  exprefled. 
Some  women  friends  being  alfo  named  by 
their  meeting  to  join  in  it,  before  the  fer- 
vice was  much  proceeded  in,  a  heavy  con- 
cern came  upon  me,  from  a  fecret  fenfe  I 
had  that  one  of  them  was  under  the  cenfure 
of  fome,  by  which  I  feared  her  fervice 
would  be  laid  wade,  unlefs  it  could  be  re- 
moved; and  although  I  had  no  intimation, 
of  any  thing  of  the  kind  from  any  perfon, 
I  .became  heavily  exercifed,  and  at  length 
requefted  a  friend  to  invite  the  man  and  his 
wife  to  dine  with  him,  who  I  apprehended 
were  uneafy  with  the  woman,  and  I  defired 
her  and  her  hulband  to  come  to  the  fame 
houfe  in  the  afternoon,  who  accordingly 
came.  Thus  the  parties  being  met  unex- 
pectedly to  each  other,  I  was  humbled  un- 
der the  weight  attending  my  mind,  and  no 
others  being  prefent,  except  the  friend  and 
his  wife  at  whofe  houfe  we  were,  I  ventured 
to  let  them  know  the  exercife  I  had  been 
under  fome  days,  from  an  apprehenfion  of 
a  difference,  or  prejudice,  fubfifting  between 
them,  which,  if  not  removed,  would  de- 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN,     157 

vour  like  fire;  by  which  I  believed  they 
were  already  much  affedted ;  but  as  I  had 
not  received  information,  more  or  lefs,  I 
might  be  miftaken,  and  did  not  defire  they 
fhould  fay  any  thing  on  the  fubjecl:  before 
me,  but  honeftly  confer  on  it  between 
themfelves  firft,  and  if  it  was  fo,  remove 
the  caufe;  and  if  nothing  was  amifs,  then 
to  let  me  know,  that  I  might  be  warned  to 
be  more  cautious  in  future.  Upon  which  I 
left  them-,  and  walked  by  myfelf  about  an 
hour,  when  the  man  of  the  houfe  called  me 
in,  and  they  told  me  that  I  was  not  mif- 
taken,  for  that  there  had  been  an  hardnefs 
fubfifting  for  fome  time,  which  they  hoped 
was  now  done  away.  But  when,  in  the 
courfe  of  our  vifit,  we  came  to  the  houfe  of 
the  friends  who  had  been  uneafy,  I  felt  it 
as  frefh  as  before,  and  told  them  I  did  be- 
lieve they  were  not  eafy  that  the  friend 
mould  go  on  in  the  fervice.  To  which  one 
of  them  anfwered,  If  (he  judges  herfelf  to 
be  clear,  and  others  are  eafy,  I  have  no  ob- 
jection. Whereupon  I  afked  what  others 
were  meant;  the  man  replied,  Her  huiband 
and  relations.  And  as  the  matter  refled 
upon  me,  it  appeared  that  endeavours  ought 
to  be  ufed  for  reconciliation  before  we  could 
with  fatisfadtion  proceed  on  our  vifit;  and, 
believing  that  the  Lord  had  fecretly  en- 
gaged me,  I  hoped  he  would  accompany, 
and  blefs  the  labour,  for  the  reftoration  of 
peace ;  which  in'  a  few  days  he  was  pleafed 

to 


i58    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

to  accompliih,  and  then  we  proceeded  more 
chearfully;  and  I  think  I  may  fay  that  the 
Lord  was  with  us,  to  the  praife  of  his  great 
eternal  name,  who  is  worthy  for  ever ! 

We  vifited  the  families  of  friends  in 
Whitehaven,  Broughton,Cockermouth,  Pard- 
fhaw  Hall,  Eaglesrield,  and  Grayfothen,  and 
others  remote,  and  had  feveral  profitable 
publick  meetings  in  thofe  towns,  and  places 
adjacent.  Having  fpent  about  feven  weeks 
within  the  verge  of  Pardfhaw  Hall  monthly- 
meeting,  and  finding  my  mind  clear,  we 
went  to  Whitehaven,  and  took  pafTage  in 
the  mip  Globe,  James  Grafon  mafter,  for 
Ireland,  on  the  eighth  of  the  fixth  month, 
(1752)  N.  S.  and  parting  with  our  dear 
friends  in  much  love,  fet  fail  about  the  fifth 
hour  in  the  evening,  and  landed  at  Dublin 
on  the  eleventh  of  the  fame  month,  and 
were  kindly  received  at  the  houfe  of  Samuel 
Judd;  as  I  was  going  to  which,  this  fecret 
hint  was  prefented  to  my  mind,  '  Live  re- 
'  tired,  and  be  not  fuddenly  acquainted  with 
*  any  man.'  After  dinner  our  kind  land- 
lord faid,  I  do  not  well  in  that  I  have  not 
informed  friends  of  your  arrival :  they  will 
blame  me.  I  anfwered,  Let  us  firft  know 
that  we  are  here;  we  are  juft  come  from 
fea,  and  are  weary :  for  we  had  a  trouble- 
fome  pafTage  by  contrary  winds  and  heavy 
rains,  John  Pemberton,  my  companion, 
having  been  very  fea-fick,  and  myfelf  a  lit- 
tle fo.  The  next  day  we  attended  Sycamore- 
Alley 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    159 

Alley  meeting,  where  we  had  the  company 
of  Sufanna  Hatton,  who  had  been  in  Ame- 
rica with  Ruth  Courtney.  We  were  at  eight 
meetings  in  Dublin,  alfo  at  a  monthly- 
meeting,  and  a  quarterly-meeting  for  their 
young  people ;  in  which  I  was  deeply  con- 
cerned, under  coniideration  of  the  prevalence 
of  pride  and  the  world's  famions,  which 
was  declared  to  them  in  the  love  of  truth  : 
and  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  favour  feveral 
of  the  meetings  by  his  heavenly  prefence, 
to  the  praife  of  his  holy  name. 

Leaving  this  city,  we  went  towards  the 
North.  At  Drogheda  there  is  a  meeting- 
houfe  belonging  to  friends,  but  they  are 
there  fo  declined,  we  could  not  have  a  meet- 
ing to  fatisfadlion.  We  therefore  went  on 
to  a  meeting  with  a  few  friends  at  Rathfri- 
land,  in  the  county  of  Down,  then  to  Moy- 
allon,  where  the  meeting  was  comfortable; 
and  on  firft  day  had  two  meetings  at  Lur- 
gan,  in  the  county  of  Armagh,  in  which 
place  pride  and  a  worldly  fpirit  much  pre- 
vails. Then  taking  meetings  at  Newton, 
Lifburn,  Hilliborough,  and  Ballinderry,  in 
the  county  of  Antrim,  the  laft  of  which 
was  a  large  good  meeting,  we  had  one  at 
Antrim,  where  the  favour  of  truth  feems 
much  loft  by  the  few  profelTors  there.  We 
then  parTed  on  to  the  Grange  meeting,  which 
was  very  dull,  through  the  prevalence  of  a 
worldly  dark  fpirit ;  and  from  thence  to  a 
meeting  at  Bally nacree,  and  fo  to  Colerain, 

where 


160     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

where    we    had   a   fatisfactory   opportunity 
with  fome  of  the  town's  people,  who  came 
to  the  meeting  out  of  curiofity:  but  I  felt 
no  freedom  to  exprefs   the    fenfe  I   had  of 
the  ftate  of  friends  then  -t  and  as  the  meet- 
irtg  broke  up,  I  ftepped  to  a  young  woman, 
a  friend,  who  lived  near  the  meeting-houfe, 
and  defired  her  to  ftep  forward,    and  turn 
the  few  friends  in  there,  as  fhe  knew  them, 
and  let  the  others  go  by,  which  fhe  readily 
performed.      When  we  were  all   fat  down 
round  the  room,  it  foon  felt  to  me  that  if  I 
delivered  my  concern  in  general  terms,  the 
Intended  end  would  not  be  anfwered :  be- 
ing in  pain  for  their  good,  and  clofe  matters 
fpoken  might   be  taken  by  fuch  to   whom 
leafl  belonged,  and  being  greatly  humbled, 
I  was  defirous  to  be  rightly  instructed  (not 
knowing  their  names)  to  fpeak  to  them  fe- 
parately.     The  Lord,  who  never  fails  thofe 
who  humbly  trufl  in  him,  mewed  me  where 
and  with  whom  to  begin,    and    fo   to  the 
next,  and  mine  eye  being  fixed   on  the  per- 
fon   to  whom  I   directed  my   fpeech,    each 
knew  what  was  delivered  to  them  in  parti- 
cular; and  I  hope  the  opportunity  was  be- 
neficial, for  I  had  great  peace.     When  the 
friends  were  gone,  1  afked  the  young  wo- 
man, who  feemed  in   fome   furprize,  what 
ailed  her;  fhe  faid,  that  feveral  were  very 
exactly  told   their  condition,  and  fhe  feared 
they  would  judge  her  for  an^informer.    I  told 
her,  fhe  need  not  matter  that,  as  fhe  knew 

herfelf 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    161 

herfelf  innocent.  I  mention  this  occurrence 
as  a  remarkable  kindnefs  from  the  merciful 
Lord  to  the  children  of  men,  for  their  help 
and  inftruclion,  and  that  his  fervants  may 
be  encouraged  to  wait  upon  him  for  in- 
flr  action  to  difcharge  their  duty  as  faithful 
flewards  in  his  fight,  who  knows  the  fecrets 
of  all  hearts,  and  taught  his  fervant  in  old 
time  to  know  the  wife  of  Jeroboam,  though 
me  feigned  herfelf  to  be  another  woman. 
Blefled  and  magnified  be  his  holy  name,  who 
is  over  all,  worthy  for  ever,  and  ever  ! 

Then  taking  meetings  at  Tobberhead, 
Charlemont,  and  Ballyhagan,  we  attended 
the  men's  meeting  at  Lurgan,  having  a  great 
defire  to  fit  with  friends  there  in  the  ma- 
nagement of  their  difcipline,  which  was 
adjourned  to  this  time  at  my  requeft.  It 
began  with  a  meeting  for  worfhip,  men  and 
women  being  generally  together ;  at  the 
conclufion  of  which,  the  men  went  into 
the  room  where  the  meeting  for  bufinefs 
was  ufually  held,  when,  after  fitting  fome 
time  in  filence,  a  leading  friend  faid,  '  This 
'  is  only  an  adjourned  meeting,'  and  bid  the 
clerk  enter  it,  and  they  might  adjourn  to 
the  ufual  time  to  do  their  bufinefs,  when 
it  would  be  more  felecl:.  And  the  meet- 
ing fitting  a  while  without  proceeding  any 
way,  I  afked  them  what  was  meant  by  the 
words,  'more  felecl:,'  and  further  (aid,  if  any 
perfons  were  prefent  that  had  not  a  right  to 
fit  there,  they  mould  withdraw,  they  knew 
M  their 


i62     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

their  own  members :  if  they  meant  the 
friend  who  came  with  us,  he  was  a  neigh- 
bouring friend,  and  an  elder;  and  as  for 
myfelf,  I  efteemed  myfelf  a  proper  member 
of  their  meeting,  as  I  came  to  vifit  them 
with  the  concurrence  of  my  brethren  at 
home,  and  had  certificates  from  them, 
wherein  I  was  recommended  to  friends  in 
Europe,  and  elfewhere;  and  if  I  did  any 
thing  among  them  worthy  of  cenfure,  I 
fhould  fubmit  to  their  dealing,  and  there- 
fore defired  them  to  go  on  with  their  buli- 
nefs;  for  I  had  come  thither  with  a  concern 
to  fee  how  the  affairs  of  the  church  went 
on.  So  without  more  debate,  or  much  re- 
ply, they  proceeded ;  and,  to  my  furprize, 
things  of  diforder  had  lain  feveral  years 
without  proper  dealing  with  various  offend- 
ers ;  fuch  as  drinkers  of  healths,  fome  that 
had  been  at  cockfightings  and  races,  and 
one  or  more  marriages  out  of  the  order  of 
truth :  which  gave  me  an  opportunity  to 
clear  myfelf  fully  of  the  concern  that  had 
for  fome  days  lain  with  weight  on  my  mind, 
which  I  believe  was  acceptable  to  fome  fe- 
cretly  pained  friends,  however  contrary  to 
fome  others.  So  that  I  left  the  place  with 
a  peaceful  mind,  and  thankful  to  the  Lord, 
who  had  given  me  an  innocent  boldnefs  to 
affert  my  right  of  memberfhip :  for  I  believe 
if  we  had  not  been  there,  the  meeting  would 
have  been  thought  felecl:. 

We 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    163 

We  then  went  to  Ulfler  Province-meeting 
at  Ballyhagan,  which  held  two  days.     The 
elders  and  other  concerned  friends  here  in- 
quire into   the  ftate  of  things  among  their 
members  in  the  province,  and  it  was  in  the 
main  a  fatisfactory  meeting.      From  hence 
we   went    fouthward,    taking    meetings    at 
Caftlefhane,    Coothill,    Ballihais,    and    Old 
Caflle,    and  to   Ballimurry,    in   Connaught, 
having  a  meeting  in  a  barn  at  Gailey    with 
a.  few  friends,  it  being  the  only   one  kept 
up   in   that   province,    except   at   Athlone, 
which  we  like  wife  attended,    and  came  to 
James  Clibborn's,  at  the  Moat  of  Granoge, 
where  we  alfo  had  a  meeting;    although  I 
had  travelled   every   day   for   more   than    a 
week  with  a  fever  on  me,  and  had  eaten  lit- 
tle, occaiioned,  as  I  thought,  by  a  cold  taken 
by  laying  in  damp  beds,  and  was  now  very 
unwell,  but  fat  the  firft  day  meeting.    Next 
day  my  illnefs  became  very  violent,  fo  that 
friends  thought  I  mould  lay  my  body  there, 
and   fent   for   an  apothecary,    who   let  me 
blood,    which   fomewhat  allayed  the  fever, 
and  I  fell  into  a  deep,  when  I  began  to  bleed 
again,  which   brought  me  very  weak,    that 
I   was   awakened   at    midnight    with    great 
drops  of  fweat  on  rny   face,  and  ficknefs ; 
and  calling  my   companion,    who   watched 
with  me,  we  found  that   I  had  bled  much, 
the  orifice   in    my  arm    being   very    large, 
and  not  carefully  bound  up.    My  kind  land- 
lord and  his  wife,  being  anxious  about  me, 
M  2  had 


164     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

had  prevailed  with  the  apothecary  to  lodge 
in  the  houfe,  who  being  called  to  me,  on 
his  coming,  I  defired  him  to  peel  a  blad- 
der, and  apply  a  thin  piece  of  it,  about  as 
broad  as  a  halfpenny,  on  the  wound.  He 
alked  for  what ;  I  told  him  he  would  fee : 
and  when  it  was  applied,  I  requefled  him 
to  hold  his  finger  on  the  piece  over  the  ori- 
fice, fo  as  to  flop  the  blood,  until  the  plaif- 
ter  dried  and  ftuck,  which  it  foon  did,  and 
it  bled  no  more :  he  faid  that  he  had  not 
feen  the  like.  I  mention  this  for  the  fake 
of  others;  for  the  bladder  flicks  as  the 
blood  under  it  dies,  and  will  flop  the  bleed- 
ing of  almofl  any  wound.  Next  morning 
a  graduate  phyfician  of  the  town  came  to 
vifit  me,  and  feeling  my  pulfe,  I  afked  him 
what  he  thought  of  me.  He  making  no 
anfwer,  I  faid,  be  not  afraid  to  tell  me,  for 
I  am  not  afraid  to  hear.  He  replied,  '  that 

*  is  happy  for  you;'  by  which  I  fuppofed 
he  thought  I  mould  not  recover.    He  viewed 
my  fpittle,  and  faid   I  was   in  a  deep  con- 
fumption,  and  propofed  my  taking  a  vomit. 
I  told  him  that  I  had  not  taken  one  many 
years :   befides,  as  he  judged  my  lungs  were 
inflamed,  a  moderate  purge  was    better;  at 
which   he   replied,  with   an  air    of  banter, 
'  You  are  an  odd  patient :  come,  you  mall 

*  be  phyfician,    and  I  will  be  apothecary/ 
I  took  him  at  his  word,  and  he  fent  me  a 
purge,  which  gave  me  fome  relief.     He  vi- 
fited  me  daily  for  a  week,  and  could  hardly 

believe 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     165 

believe  I  fhould  recover,  though  I  told  him 
I  believed  that  I  fhould.  He  flill  judged 
my  cough  to  be  confumptive,  and  at  length 
told  me,  if  I  did  recover,  to  go  home  as 
foon  as  I  could ;  for  that  the  Lord  was  more 
merciful  than  to  require  fuch  an  one  as  I 
was  to  travel  as  I  did ;  and  that  I  had  already 
acted  as  a  madman,  to  travel  fo  long  time  with 
that  fever  before  I  lay  by.  I  afked  him,  if 
he  was  matter  of  a  veflel  at  fea,  which  had 
fprung  a  leak  that  could  not  be  flopped, 
what  he  would  do.  He  replied,  endeavour 
to  make  to  the  next  port,  for  a  dry  dock, 
to  unlade,  and  fearch  out  the  leak.  Why, 
doctor,  faid  I,  this  is  juft  my  cafe :  I  faw 
no  place  to  lay  by  until  I  came  hither  5  at 
which  he  laughed,  and  wifhed  me  well.  I 
think  I  never  was  reduced  to  fo  weak  a  flate 
in  fo  fhort  a  time,  which  might  be  occa- 
fioned  by  my  great  lofs  of  blood;  but  the 
Lord  was  pleafed  to  heal  me,  that  I  ga-p 
thered  ftrength  to  admiration,  and  on  firfl 
day  fat  the  meeting,  which  was  comfortable, 
and  continuing  to  recover,  though  not  fit 
to  travel,  I  tarried  until  fourth  day,  and 
attended  their  monthly-meeting;  and  under- 
ilanding  they  had  been  endeavouring  to  vifit 
families,  but  were  backward  in  beginning, 
I  told  friends  that  I  had  a  freedom  to  accom- 
pany them  in  the  work  for  a  few  days,  for 
their  encouragement,  and  we  accordingly 
went  with  them  to  a  few  places  to  good 
fatisfaction ;  and  friends  received  ftrength  to 
M  3  go 


1 66     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

go  on  with  the  fervice.  Then  taking  an 
affectionate  leave  of  our  kind  landlord,  James 
Clibborn,  and  his  wife,  who  is  grand- 
daughter to  Robert  Barclay,  the  apologift, 
we  went  to  meetings  at  Birr,  Kilconnermoor, 
Camell,  Killcommon,  Clonmell,  Youghall, 
and  fo  to  Cork  on  the  firft  day  of  the  week, 
where  we  alfo  attended  the  men's  meeting 
for  difcipline,  and  vifited  the  women's  meet- 
ing, which  were  both  to  fome  good  fatif- 
fadtion.  Then  going  to  Ban  don,  we  re- 
turned tp  an  appointed  meeting  at  Cork,  for 
parents  and  their  children ;  and  having 
ilrength  given  me  to  clear  myfelf,  it  was,  I 
hope,  profitable  to  many,  being  a  large 
meeting.  We  then  went  to  Malo,  and  had 
a  feafonable  opportunity  with  a  family  of 
friends.  Thence  to  the  province-meeting 
for  Munfter,  held  at  Limerick,  the  publick 
and  felecl:  fittings  of  which,  and  for  the 
difcipline,  ended  comfortably.  And  after 
attending  the  week-day  meeting,  we  went 
to  a  meeting  at  Rofs,  and  returned  to  Lime- 
rick, and  being  unwell  with  a  cold,  WTC 
tarried  their  meetings  on  firft  day,  which 
were  large  and  fatisfaclory,  and  in  the  even- 
ing had  one  with  a  fick  friend.  Being  clear, 
and  taking  three  meetings  in  our  way,  we 
proceeded  to  Leinfter  province-meeting,  at 
Mountmelick,  which  began  on  the  fixth  day 
of  the  week  with  a  meeting  of  minifters, 
the  next  day  for  worfhip  and  the  difcipline, 
and  pn  firft  day  morning  was  a  large  and 

precious 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     167 

precious  meeting.  In  the  afternoon  the 
town's  people  came  in,  and  it  was  a  good 
fatisfactory  meeting,  though  not  fo  large, 
friends  being  moftly  gone  home.  We  had  a 
meeting  next  day  at  Tullamoor,  and  return- 
ing to  Mountmelick,  had  a  fatisfadtory  one 
with  the  children  in  the  fchool  of  James 
Gough.  After  the  week-day  meeting  in 
this  town,  we  went  to  Ballicarrol,  Ballina- 
kil  and  Cooperhill,  having  a  meeting  at 
each ;  then  to  Catherlough  monthly-meeting 
on  firfl  day,  and  the  next  day  to  A  thy;  then 
to  Ballitore,  which  was,  through  Divine 
goodnefs  attending,  made  profitable :  and  we 
had  alfo  a  fatisfactory  meeting  with  the  fcho- 
lars  in  Abraham  Shackleton's  fchool.  After 
a  meeting  at  Newton,  we  went  to  Samuel 
Watfon's,  at  Kilconner,  whofe  wife  (late 
Abigail  Bowles)  had  been  on  a  religious 
vifit  in  America  feveral  years  paft.  She  was 
now  near  her  end,  but  fenfible,  and  in  a 
good  frame  of  fpirit,  and  greatly  rejoiced  to 
fee  us,  and  we  were  mutually  comforted  in 
a  fenfe  of  the  Lord's  prefence,  for  which  his 
holy  name  was  praifed.  After  a  meeting 
here,  and  another  at  Catherlough,  we  went 
to  Waterford,  and  fat  with  friends  in  their 
morning,  afternoon,  and  evening  meetings 
on  the  firft  day;  in  all  whfch,  having  cleared 
myfelf  honeftly,  my  fpirit  mourned  under 
a  fenfe  of  formality  among  the  people,  and 
a  deadnefs  to  the  pure  inward  life  of  reli- 
gion. Then  taking  meetings  at  Rofs,  Lambs- 
M  4  town, 


168     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

town,  Wexford,  Randals-mills,  or  Caflle- 
fow,  Cooladine,  and  feveral  other  places, 
we  came  to  Wicklow,  at  which  meeting 
many  foldiers  attended,  who  behaved  well, 
and  truth  owned  the  fervice  in  a  good  de- 
gree. I  have  obferved  where  the  foldiers 
came  into  our  meetings,  they  were  an  awe 
to  the  rabble,  and  loofe  people,  who  are 
fometimes  apt  to  be  rude.  From  hence  we 
went  to  Dublin,  in  order  to  attend  the  na- 
tional half-year's-meeting,  and  were  kindly 
received  by  our  old  landlord,  Samuel  Judd, 
and  his  family. 

Leinfler  province-meeting  began  on  fe- 
cond  day,  the  lixth  of  the  eleventh  month, 
both  for  worfhip  and  difcipline,  and  on  third 
day  the  national  meeting,  which  held  four 
days  :  the  feveral  fittings  thereof  being  in 
general  attended  with  a  fenfe  of  Divine 
goodnefs ;  and  the  teftimony  of  truth  ran 
ftrong  againft  hypocrify,  covetoufnefs,  liber- 
tinifm,  and  pride  among  the  profeflbrs  there- 
of, but  in  a  confolatory  ilream  to  the  hum- 
ble and  contrite  children  of  the  family ;  in  a 
thankful  fenfe  whereof  the  namt  of  the  Lord 
was  praifed,  who  is  worthy  for  ever  and  ever  I 
We  tarried  a  few  days  longer  with  friends 
in  Dublin,  and  then  went  to  meetings  at 
Baltibois,  Timah*a,  Rathagon,  and  Eden- 
derry,  and  a  religious  fitting  at  John  Pirn's 
family  at  Nurney.  Then  returning  to  Eden- 
derry,  attended  their  monthly- meeting,  where 
having  a  concern  to  vilit  fome  families  of 

friends, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     169 

friends,  we  went  to  moft  of  them  in  that 
town,  and  to  the  houfe  of  a  widow  in  the 
country,  where  we  had  a  good  opportunity 
with  her  and  her  children.  I  afked  the 
friend  who  accompanied  us,  whether  there 
was  any  other  friend's  houfe  to  which  we 
had  not  been,  He  faid  he  thought  not; 
but  my  mind  had  a  draught  to  fome  houfe, 
and  I  pointed  toward  it.  He  then  faid  he 
believed  he  knew  where.  So  we  went  to 
the  place,  and  the  family  being  called  toge- 
ther, I  enquired  whether  there  was  not  an- 
other belonging  to  the  houfe,  and  was  told 
there  was.  As  foon  as  he  came  in,  I  knew  it 
was  the  man  whom  my  mind  was  concerned 
to  vifit;  and  fomething  I  had  to  exprefs 
reached  and  tendered  him  very  much;  he 
being  exceeding  wild  and  faihionable,  and 
did  not  love  to  attend  religious  meetings, 
but  truth  now  reached  him.  On  the  firfl 
day  following  I  faw  him  at  Edenderry  meet- 
ing, where  the  vilitation  feemed  to  be  re- 
newed to  him.  I  afterwards  heard  that  he 
continued  to  be  fober  and  thoughtful,  and  I 
was  thankful  to  the  Lord  that  he  was  pleafed 
to  condefcend  in  mercy  to  gather  'the  out- 
cafl  of  Ifrael.  Being  clear  of  this  place,  I 
returned  to  Dublin ;  and  having  a  concern 
on  my  mind  to  vifit  the  families  of  fome 
who  made  profeflion  of  the  truth,  but  were 
diforderly  in  their  conduct,  we  began  that 
fervice,  being  accompanied  by  feveral  friends, 
and  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  own  the  work. 

During 


j7o     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

During  our  ftay  we  were  careful  to  attend 
all  the  meetings  in  this  city  for  wormip 
and  difcipline;  one  of  which  was  a  quar- 
terly-meeting for  the  youth,  in  which  many 
were  tendered  by  the  love  of  God,  through 
Jefus  Chrifl,  our  Lord  and  Saviour.  We 
vifited  about  fixty  families,  in  moft  whereof 
the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  favour  with  autho- 
rity to  fet  the  teitimony  of  truth  over  the 
heads  of  the  corrupt,  diforderly  profeflbrs, 
and  to  influence  with  understanding  to  di- 
vide the  word  and  counfel  of  truth  to  the 
different  ftates  of  thofe  we  vifited :  in  an 
humble  fenfe  whereof,  let  my  foul  obey  and 
adore  him,  who  is  alone  worthy  for  ever  .' 

As  I  apprehended  the  women's  meeting 
to  be  flack  of  doing  their  part  of  duty,  as 
true  helps  in  the  exercife  of  the  difcipline, 
and  a  proper  care  over  the  flock  and  family 
of  the  Lord,  a  weighty  concern  attended 
me  to  exprefs  in  writing  my  fenfe  of  what 
was  the  proper  bufinefs  belonging  to  wo- 
men's meetings,  which  I  mewed  to  the  men 
friends,  and  had  their  concurrence  to  lay  it 
before  the  women's  meeting,  in  order  for 
their  encouragement  and  practice  in  the 
wifdom  of  truth,  and  it  was  afterwards  fent 
to  the  women's  meetings  throughout  the  na- 
tion. 

The  veffel  in  which  we  came  to  Ireland; 
being  ready  to  fail,  and  the  matter  defirous 
of  our  company  to  return  with  him,  I  felt 
fo  clear  and  eafy  that  I  intended  to  go  j  but 

when. 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     17! 

when  he  fent  us  word  to  come  on  board,  I 
was  more  inclined  to  ftay  that  day,  and 
went  to  meeting,  being  firft  day,  an4 
he  failed ;  but  meeting  with  contrary  winds 
and  dark  weather,  was  obliged  to  put  back 
into  Dublin  harbour,  after  about  a  week's 
fatigue.  My  being  withheld  from  embark- 
ing I  thought  was  a  remarkable  kindnefs 
and  favour  from  my  great  and  good  Mafter ; 
praifed  be  his  name  !  We  had  afterwards 
feveral  good  meetings,  in  fome  of  which  it 
became  my  concern  to  recommend  filence 
by  example  j  of  which  they  ftood  in  much 
need.  And  on  the  twenty- third  of  the 
fir  ft  month  (1753)  after  having  travelled  in 
Ireland  thirteen  hundred  and  fifteen  miles, 
and  had  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  meet- 
ings, beiides  many  family  vifits,  feeling  my 
mind  to  be  quite  clear,  we  went  on  board  a 
fhip  of  Whitehaven,  Allen  Wilfon  mafter, 
having  in  much  love  taken  leave  of  our 
friends ;  and  after  a  fhort,  but  ftormy  rough 
pafTage  of  about  twenty-three  hours,  arrived 
at  Whitehaven,  with  hearts  humbly  thankful 
to  the  Lord  who  had  prefer ved  us :  the  maf- 
ter faying,  that  he  had  not  known  the  like 
for  twelve  years,  although  he  had  failed 
tween  the  two  ports  very  constantly.  Next 
day  after  our  arrival,  our  friend  John  Har- 
ris, of  Highfield,  with  whom  we  had  left 
our  horfes,  brought  them  to  us,  and  we 
went  home  with  him,  and  vifited  the 
meetings  in  the  neighbourhood,  feveral  of 
which,  particularly  the  laft,  at  PardfhawHall, 

were 


172     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

were  large  and  precious  opportunities.  And 
I  thought  I  could  perceive  that  my  former 
painful  labours  among  them  had  been  blef- 
fed,  for  which  I  was  truly  thankful  to  the 
holy  head  of  the  church  and  matter  of  the 
aflemblies  of  his  people.  From  thence  we 
went  to  Lorton-hall,  and  had  an  evening 
meeting  with  the  people  of  the  town,  to 
which  came  the  prieft,  and  moft  of  his  hear- 
ers ',  and  although  the  craft  and  conduct  of 
the  hirelings  were  much  fet  forth,  all  was 
quiet,  and  it  ended  well. 

From  thence  we  went  to  Kendal,  and 
{laying  a  general  meeting  there,  proceeded 
to  divers  others  in  Yorkshire,  and  Lanca- 
fhire,  and  to  one  we  had  appointed  at  Coin, 
where  are  no  members  of  our  fociety ;  and 
though  a  poor  dark  town  in  refpecl  to  reli- 
gion, the  people  behaved  foberly,  and  many 
were  tendered  by  the  gentle,  yet  powerful 
reaches  of  heavenly  goodnefs;  and  I  may 
fay,  that  in  riding  through  fome  towns  in 
England,  where  no  friend  dwelt,  I  felt  a 
fecret  falutation  of  love  to  the  inhabitants, 
though  as  a  feed  yet  ungathered;  but  my 
prefent  bufinefs  in  general  was  to  the  chil- 
dren of  the  family,  that  when  it  mall  pleafe 
the  Lord  to  open  the  eyes  of  others  to  be- 
hold Zion,  no  {tumbling- block  might  ap- 
pear to  offend  the  beholders,  or  dim  her 
heavenly  beauty. 

From  hence  paffing  to  Halifax,  we  had  a 
large  open  meeting  there,  and  divers  others 

iu 


OP  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    173 

in  Yorkfliire,  until  we  came  to  our  friend 
John  Haflam's,  at  Hanfworth-Woodhoufe ;; 
then  to  Sheffield,  where  we  vifited  fome  fa- 
milies to  our  fatisfa&ion  j  and  after  attend- 
ing two  meetings  in  Derbyfhire,  returned 
to  John  Haflam's,  and  again  to  Sheffield, 
and  fat  their  morning  meeting  on  firft  day, 
and  in  the  afternoon  attended  the  burial  of 
Ellen  Atwick,  a  friend  of  good  repute,  to 
which  many  people  came,  and  I  had  a  fa- 
vourable opportunity.  Being  then  clear,  I 
went  to  Blythe,  in  Nottinghamshire,  and 
had  a  meeting,  and  feveral  in  other  towns 
this  week,  and  reached  Rawcliff,  in  York- 
mire,  on  firft  day.  On  the  night  before  I 
had  a  dream,  which  much  aiFedted  me.  '  I 
thought  I  heard  a  kind  of  melody  and 
finging  at  my  left  hand,  whereupon  I  faid, 
What  do  ye  rejoice  at  ?  Which  continu- 
ing, I  faid,  Your  finging  is  fome  what  like 
David's  rejoicing  before  the  ark,  but  I  fee 
it  not :  and  I  heard  a  voice  on  my  right, 
faying,  the  ark  is  in  the  land  of  the  Phi- 
liftines,  where  it  was  taken  through  the 
wickednefs  of  the  priefts  and  fins  of  the 
people ;  who  removed  the  ark  from  Shi- 
loh,  to  ftrengthen  them  in  battle/  Where- 
upon I  awoke,  and  was  under  fome  exercife 
for  a  time,  concluding  it  was  ominous,  but 
faw  no  further,  until  we  went  to  meeting 
in  the  forenoon,  where  I  foon  heard  a 
kind  of  tuneful  fighing,  which  kept  in- 
creating ;  and  turning  my  head,  to  difcover 

from 


,74    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

from  whence  it  came,  found  it  to  be  at  my 
left  hand.  After  a  while  a  perfon  flood  up, 
and  fpake  a  few  fentences  of  extraordinary 
enjoyments  which  were  to  be  felt*  My 
mind  was  pained,  and  after  he  fat  down  I 
flood  up,  and  faid,  What  are  ye  doing  ?  and 
what  do  you  feel  to  occaiion  this  rejoicing  ? 
and  mould  have  proceeded  to  have  told  them 
my  thoughts,  but  inftantly  my  dream  came 
into  my  mind,  and  fo  with  little  addition 
fat  down  very  forrowful.  After  the  meet- 
ing I  went  to  dinner,  but  could  not  eat 
much,  or  be  chearful.  At  the  afternoon 
meeting  we  had  the  fame  tune,  until  my 
fpirit  was  afflicted;  but  labouring  to  know 
that  quiet  which  is  not  eafily  difturbed,  I 
received  flrength  in  a  loving  frame  of  mind 
to  inform  them,  that  I  feared  they  were 
miftaken  in  their  ftates  and  conditions,  for 
that  death  reigned,  and  it  was  rather  a  time 
of  mourning:  and  as  truth  arofe  in  fome 
good  degree,  that  floating  formal  fea  became 
dried  up.  And  in  the  evening  having  the 
company  of  the  chief  finger  among  them,  I 
had  a  fingular  freedom  fimply  to  relate  my 
dream  to  him,  with  a  defire  that  he  might 
examine  whether  the  ark  enclofing  the  pure 
teftimony  was  preferved  fafe  amongft  them ; 
which  ihut  up  further  converfation.  In  a 
few  days  after,  an  intimate  friend  alked  me 
how  I  fared  there  j  I  repeated  to  him  my 
dream,  and  he  told  me  it  was  very  fignifi- 
cant,  for  that  a  withering  had  taken  place 

in 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     175 

in  that  meeting,  and  that  perfon  had  feveral 
children  that  were  married  to  fuch  that  did 
not  profefs  with  us ;  and  being  treated  with 
as  a  parent,  he  faid  it  might  be  a  means  of 
in  creating  the  meeting,  if  thofe  they  had 
married  came  to  meeting  with  them,  and 
difcouraged  friends  from  dealing  with  them, 
left  it  mould  prevent  them. 

Then  taking  a  meeting  at  Selby,  we  pro- 
ceeded to  the  quarterly-meeting  at  York, 
which  continued  two  days,  and  was  a  good 
meeting.  Here  we  met  my  brother,  Wil- 
liam Brown,  to  our  mutual  comfort,  after  a 
feparation  of  nineteen  months.  We  foon 
parted  again,  he  going  towards  Lancafter, 
and  we  to  feveral  meetings  in  Yorkmire,  and 
fome  in  Lincolnfhire.  In  fome  places  I 
obferved  the  form  to  remain,  and  life  to  be 
wanting,  and  in  others  the  profeflbrs  of 
truth  are  too  generally  declined  from  both. 
True  life  gives  birth  to  a  true  form,  but  the 
mere  form  will  never  produce  the  life  of 
truth.  From  hence  we  went  to  Retford  and 
Mansfield,  in  Nottinghamfhire,  and  at  the 
laft  town  had  two  meetings,  one  of  which 
was  with  friends  by  themfelves ;  for  it  did 
not  always  appear  convenient  to  deliver  too 
publickly  thofe  things  which  tended  to  the 
reproof  of  fome  diforderly  walkers  in  the 
family,  left  it  mould  rather  harden  than 
reftore  and  heal;  efpecially  where  their  con- 
dud:  did  not  occafion  open  reproach.  Then 
taking  a  meeting  at  Broughton,  we  went  to 

Netting- 


176     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Nottingham,  and  had  three  meetings  there 
on  firft  day,  and  the  next  at  Oxham,  with 
a  few  friends,  who  were  glad  thereof,  being 
fometimes  miffed  by  travellers.  The  day 
following  we  had  an  appointed  meeting  at 
Nottingham,  to  fatisfa&ion.  In  this  place 
they  are  troubled  with  fome  ranters,  who 
force  themfelves  into  meetings  for  difcipline. 
Friends  were  exhorted  to  keep  up  the  tefti- 
mony  of  truth  in  the  meek  humble  fpirit 
thereof,  in  which  its  dominion  will  ftand 
for  ever.  We  then  fpent  fome  time  in  vi- 
fiting  many  meetings  in  Leicestershire,  tak- 
ing one  at  Oakham,  in  Rutlandfhire,  where 
fome  innocent  friends  live;  and  I  think  it  is 
the  only  meeting  of  friends  in  that  county. 
At  Bofwell-ftreet  we  had  a  meeting  with 
fome  who  had  been  lately  convinced,  but 
had  not  yet  known  a  true  eftablifhment  in 
humbly  waiting  for  the  power  of  truth,  to 
give  a  folid  growth  in  pure  religion.  The 
fame  evening  we  had  a  meeting  at  Coventry, 
to  good  fatisfaction  j  and  the  week  follow- 
ing came  to  Dudley,  in  Worcefterfliire, 
where  we  lodged  at  James  Payton's,  whofe 
lifter  Catharine  was  preparing  to  go  on  a 
religious  vifit  to  America.  Staying  the 
meeting  on  firft  day  in  Dudley,  we  went  to 
divers  others  in  this  county  and  Warwick- 
mire,  and  came  to  Eaden,  in  Northampton- 
mire,  at  which  meeting  many  people  came, 
fome  of  whom  were  very  unruly;  but  the 
power  of  truth  prevailing,  it  ended  quietly ; 

praifed 


OF   JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     177 

praifed  be  the  Lord,  who  is  all-fufficient  for 
his  own  work!     Viiiting  feveral  other  meet- 
ings in  this  county,  at  one  of  them,  held  in 
an  evening  at  Chipping-Norton,  there  Were 
many  tender  young  people,  to  whom  I  felt 
a  falutation  in  the  love  of  truth ;  but  before 
I   thought  it   fafe  for    me   to  Hand    up,    a 
young  man,  not  much  like  a  friend,  flood 
up,  and  began  to  exhort  them  to  be  faith- 
ful in  difcharging  whatfoever  the  Lord  re- 
quired of  them,  and  how  eminently  he  would 
be  with,  and  qualify   them   for  his  work  ; 
as  though  they  were  all  appointed  to  enter 
upon  fome  extraordinary  fervice.     At  which 
my  mind  was  much  grieved ;  for  I  thought 
it  would  be  more  fuitable  for  them  deeply 
to  retire,  and  wait  for  the  virtue  of  truth, 
and   {Up  of  life,  to  experience  a  growth   in 
grace  and  the  knowledge  of  God,  that  they 
might  be  prepared  to  work  out  their  own 
falvation.     To  exped:  a  young  tree  to  pro- 
duce abundance  of  fruit,  before  the  branches 
are  come  forth  and  fpread  with  ftrength  to 
bear  it,  is  not  reafonable.     The  words  '  fit 
*  down'  palled  through  my  mind  for  fome 
time,  and  at  length  1  fpoke  them  fo  as  for 
him  to  hear,  which  I  perceived  by  a  fmall 
flop  he  made.     But  going  on  again,   I  faid, 
Prithee,  friend,    fit    down,  which   he    did ; 
but   I   felt    that    my    faying    furprized    the 
people,  and  perhaps  offended  fome,  and  that 
it  would  be  in  vain   to  deliver  what  was  on 
my   mind;    fo    expreffing   a    few  fentences 
N  only, 


178     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

only,  I  fat  down,  and  the  meeting  ended. 
I  was  informed  by  a  friend  at  our  lodgings, 
that  he  was  one  lately  come  from  the  Me- 
thodifts,    which    I   before    apprehended    by 
his  appearance.      On   going    to    bed,   I  was 
much    concerned   left  it   fhould    hurt  him, 
and  deeply   fought  to  know  whether  I  had 
not  fpoken  to  him  in  a  felfifh  fpirit,  becaufe 
he  had  taken  the  time  of  the  meeting  ap- 
pointed on  my  account;    and  feeling  love 
towards   him,    I   prayed    in   fpirit   that    the 
Lord  would  be  pleafed  to  preferve  him  from 
harm  thereby,  and  that  if  I  had  done  wrong, 
I  might  be  made  fenlible  of  rebuke  for  my 
future  inftrudtion ;   when  in  great  calmnefs 
I  underftood  that  it  would  not  hurt  him,  fo 
I  went  into  a  quiet  fleep.     After  a  meeting 
next  day  at  Sibbard,  a  woman  friend,  who 
was  at  the  meeting  the  evening  before,  de- 
fired  me  to  fend  by  her  a  meflage,  or  write 
to   the  young  man,  for  me  was  fearful  he 
would  go  beiide  himfelf.     I  told  her,  that 
when  I  fpake  to  him  I  thought  myfelf  right, 
and   knew   what    I  was    about ;    but  now   I 
could  not  fee  what  to  do  at  prefent,  and  to 
act  by  her  direction  was  dangerous -,  fo  we 
parted,  and  in  about  a  week  after   a  friend 
let  me  know  that  there  was  no  danger  of  his 
receiving  hurt,  but  hoped  he  would  be  be- 
nefited. 

From  hence,  taking  a  few  meetings  on 
our  way,  we  arrived  at  London  on  the  fe- 
venth  of  the  fixth  month,  and  next  day 

attended 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     179 

attended  Gracechurch-ftreet  meeting,  and  in 
the    following    week    the    yearly -meeting, 
which   was    comfortable   and   folid;    divers 
weighty  matters  being  therein  propofed  for 
coniideration  from  feveral  of  the  counties, 
which  centred  rather  to  benefit,  though  in 
the  management  of  the    affairs,    there   ap- 
peared in  Tome  a  difpolition  to  oppofe  what 
they    thought    to  be  new,    notwithstanding 
the  fame  things  appeared  very  expedient  to 
others,    who,    from  their  profpecl:   thereof, 
might    urge    their    fentiments    rather    too 
ftrongly.     A  profpecl:  of  the  Lord's  fervants, 
truly    difciplined,    armed   and  qualified   for 
his  work,  and  of  fuch  who  equip,  arm,  and 
arrange  themfelves,  and  move  by  their  own 
direction,    was   prefented  to  my  view  in    a 
dream  one  night,  during  the  time  of  this 
meeting.     *  I  thought  I  beheld  two  armies 
fet    in    array   again  ft   each   other,    one  of 
them  well  armed  with  fwords  and  mufkets, 
the  other  had  no  formal  weapons  for  their 
defence,  but  a  charge  given  them  by  their 
^general  to  keep  their  ranks,  and  gently  to 
march  directly  forward,  as  he  mould  lead, 
no   man  reaching  forth  his  own  hand   to 
defend  himfelf.      They  joined    in   battle, 
and  when  one  of  the  unarmed  foldiers  was 
borne    hard    upon    by  his    opponent,    he 
reached  forth  his   hand  at    arm's  length, 
when  a  fword  took  off  one  of  his  fingers, 
and  the  blood  fprinkled  on  feveral  of  his 
fellow  foldiers  j  whereupon,  knowing  the 
N  2  '  orders 


180     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  orders  given,  I  cried  out,  If  that  hand 
'  had  not  been  fo  ftretched  out,  this  wound 
'  would  not  have  been  received/  and  fo  I 
awakened ;  and  on  the  morrow  was  fully 
convinced,  that  in  tranfacting  the  affairs  of 
truth,  the  honour  of  God  (hould  be  our 
only  view,  with  a  fingle  eye  to  his  direction, 
(and  felf  made  of  no  reputation)  which  will 
be  a  mield  againft  all  reflections  and  perfonal 
cenfures.  For  it  fo  happened,  that  a  valu- 
able zealous  friend,  being  ftrongly  reflected 
on,  as  being  a  prejudiced  party,  and  being 
a  little  warmed  thereby,  made  an  over- 
hafty,  and  perhaps  too  warm  a  reply,  which 
is  apt  to  ftir  up  warmth  in  thofe  who  de- 
pend on  no  other  guard  than  their  own  ar- 
mour, and  with  their  own  ftrength  ufe  a 
felfim  weapon.  By  this  unguarded  reply, 
the  friend  brought  a  reproof  on  himfelf 
and  fome  others,  that  were  united  in  the 
caufe  of  truth.  The  victory  belongs  to  the 
Lamb  for  ever,  who  when  he  was  fpit  up- 
on and  reviled,  did  not  again  revile. 

After  flaying  in  London,  and  attending 
the  Peel-meeting  on  firft  day,  and  the 
meeting  of  minifters  and  elders  on  fecond 
day  morning,  we  went  to  Chelmsford,  and 
refled  a  day  or  two  with  our  friend  John 
Griffith,  attended  their  week-day  meeting, 
and  a  general  meeting  at  Kelvedon,  and 
proceeded  to  the  yearly-meeting  at  Col- 
chefter,  which  held  three  days,  and  was  a 
time  of  divine  favour.  Then  going  to  Ipf- 

wich, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     181 

wich,  and  to  a  monthly-meeting  at  Wood- 
bridge,  we  there  continued  on  firft  day,  and 
on  the  next  began  their  yearly -meeting, 
which  held  until  the  fourth  day  of  the 
week,  in  all  eight  fittings,  fome  whereof 
were  large  and  very  good.  No  praife  to 
him  that  willeth,  or  to  him  that  runneth, 
but  to  the  Lord  alone,  that  fheweth  mercy. 
And  there  being  a  marriage  at  the  meeting 
on  fifth  day,  I  had  an  open  time,  wherein  I 
had  to  fet  forth,  that  as  man  in  the  begin- 
ning was  taken  from  the  earth  or  clay,  by 
the  hand  of  the  Lord,  and  a  life  breathed 
into  him  different  from  the  earth,  by  which 
he  became  a  living  foul,  and  flood  in  the 
image  and  liberty  of  his  Creator ;  but  fall- 
ing from  the  heavenly  image,  and  liberty 
therein,  through  tranfgreilion,  is  now  of 
the  earth,  earthly  in  his  love  and  liberty ; 
fo  he  muft  now  be  feparated  from  the 
earthly  low  eftate  which  flands  in  the  tranf- 
greffion  and  death,  by  the  regenerating  word 
of  power;  and  transformed  by  the  renew- 
ing of  his  mind,  will,  and  afFedlions,  and 
placing  them  on  heavenly  objects.  For  as 
the  potter  feparateth  the  clay  from  the  other 
earth,  and  tempers  it  by  itfelf,  before  he 
formeth  and  maketh  a  veffel  thereof,  fb 
muft  man,  by  ths  operation  of  the  heavenly 
hand,  be  tempered,  wrought,  prepared, 
and  thereby  freed  from  his  own  flubborn 
will,  and  made  fubmimve  to  the  heavenly 
will,  that  he  may  not  be  marred  on  the 
N  3  whed, 


i32     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

wheel,  but  bear  the  turning  of  the  hea- 
venly hand,  until  he  be  formed  a  veffel  to 
honour.  But  if  the  will  of  man  does  not 
become  fubject,  but  ftands  in  rebellion,  the 
Lord,  who  faid,  "  My  fpirit  mall  not  al- 
<f  ways  ftrive  with  man,"  hath  power  over 
the  clay,  to  re j eel  that  which  will  not  be 
wrought  into  a  veffel  for  honour,  and  fuffer 
it  to  be  marred  in  its  own  ftubborn  will. 
And  when  an  earthly  potter  hath  formed  a 
veiTel  for  ufe,  he  carefully  fetteth  it  afTde, 
until  it  be  prepared  to  bear  a  further  opera- 
tion, to  harden  and  glaze  it  for  the  ufe  for 
which  it  is  made.  If  man  mould  put  even 
water  into  an  earthen  veilel,  formed  for  that 
ufe,  before  it  is  hardened  and  prepared  by 
fire,  he  would  both  mar  the  veifel,  and 
expofe  that  which  was  put  therein.  Let 
not  fuch,  therefore,  who  have  known  the 
heavenly  hand  of  power  fo  to  prepare  them, 
that  they  are  willing  to  be  whatfoever  the 
Lord  mould  make  of  them,  marvel  if  the 
Lord  mould  be  pleafed  to  let  them  by  a 
while  for  the  trial  of  their  faith.  If  the 
earthly  potter's  veilel  mould  crack  in  dry- 
ing, it  would  be  marred  -,  fo  if  thefe  veflels 
of  the  Heavenly  Potter  keep  not  the  word 
of  his  patience  in  this  their  drying  feafon, 
to  prepare  them  for  the  operation  of  the 
heavenly  fire  and  furnace,  in  which  the 
Lord  will  fanctify  and  fit  his  veflels  for  the 
ufe  of  his  holy  ianc~tuary,  they  will  alfo  be 

marred  ^ 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    183 

marred  -,  but  otherwife  they  will  come  forth 
veffels  to  honour  in  his  houfe,  &c. 

I  thought  this  was  a  remarkably  good 
meeting,  the  praife  thereof  belongs  to  the 
Lord  alone.  We  had  alfo  a  feleft  meeting 
with  friends,  and  vifited  feveral  families  in 
the  town  to  fat  is  faction,  truth  owning  us 
together ;  and  after  a  good  opportunity  at 
a  friend's  houfe  in  the  country,  on  our  way, 
we  went  to  Norwich,  and  attended  their 
meetings  on  firft  day;  the  yearly-meeting 
began  the  next,  and  ended  on  fourth  day, 
after  feven  fittings,  generally  large  and  fatif- 
factory,  through  the  overshadowing  of  di- 
vine goodnefs.  I  continued  in  this  city 
feveral  days  after,  vifiting  families,  and 
fleadily  attending  their  meetings,  and  had 
fome  open  fatisfattory  opportunities.  My 
way  now  opening  for  Holland,  we  went  t6 
Yarmouth,  feveral  friends  accompanying  us, 
and  on  the  twenty-lixth  of  the  feventh 
month  embarked  on  board  the  (hip  Three 
Brothers,  Richard  Smith  matter,  my  com- 
panion, John  Pernberton,  being  willing  to 
continue  with  me. 

On  the  furl  day  of  the  week  following 
we  landed  at  Rotterdam,  and  lodged  at  an 
inn.  Next  morning,  feeling  my  mind  drawn 
forward,  we  went  in  a  ft  age -waggon  to 
Turgow,  and  from  thence  in  the  tracl-fkute 
in  the  evening  to  Amfterdam,  the  metro- 
polis of  South  Holland,  and  were  conducted 
to  friends  meeting-houfe  at  the  Three- 
N  4  hooks, 


1 84     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

hooks,  in  Princes-ftreet,  in  which  Michael 
Laars  and  his  lifter  lived,  and  were  kindly 
received,  and  refted  the  next  day. 

I  found  a  concern  to  vilit  the  families  of 
friends  in  this  city,  in  which  fervice  we 
fpent  moft  of  the  week  to  our  £atisfa6tion, 
John  Vanderwarf,  jun.  being  interpreter. 
We  alfo  attended  their  week-day  meeting, 
in  which  Peter  Linders  was  interpreter.  On 
firrc  day  following  the  meeting  in  the  morn- 
ing was  pretty  large,  and  many  people  came 
to  that  in  the  afternoon,  fome  of  whom  be- 
haved rudely;  but  truth  came  over,  and 
they  were  rtilled,  and  feemed  to  depart  fa- 
tisfied.  We  continued  here  until  their  week- 
day meeting  again,  which  many  not  of  our 
fociety  attended,  and  it  was  to  general  fatif- 
faction.  I  then  felt  my  mind  drawn  to- 
wards North  Holland,  and  taking  paffage  in 
the  track-fkute,  patted  through  feveral  towns, 
and  arrived  at  the  city  of  Hoorn,  where  we 
were  met  by  our  friend  Cort  Hendricks, 
who  took  us  in  his  waggon  to  his  houfe  at 
Twifk,  in  North  Holland,  the  fame  night  j 
being  accounted  eighteen  miles  from  Am- 
derftam  to  Hoorn  by  water,  and  from  thence 
toTwifk  by  lagd  fix  miles.  Here  allb  find- 
ing the  like  concern,  we  viiited  the  families 
of  friends,  and  Had  a  meeting  with  them 
in  the  evening  -together.  Next  day  we  went 
to  Abbey  K|rk,  a  village,  about  two  miles 
diilant,  where  about  five  or  fix  families  of 
friends  live,  whom  we  viiited  alto.  The 

friends 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     185 

friends  in  general  feemed  to  receive  our 
vifits  kindly,  except  one  family,  where  I 
was  concerned  to  fpeak  of,  and  open  that 
faying  of  our  dear  Lord,  "  Except  your 
"  righteoufnefs  exceed  the  righteoufnefs  of 
"  the  Scribes  and  Pharifees,"  &c.  for  I  was 
much  burdened  under  a  fenfe  of  a  felf- 
righteous,  whole,  exalted  fpirit.  And  in 
opening  that  paflage,  was  alfo  led  to  fpeak 
of  the  parable  of  the  Pharifee  and  Publican, 
who  v/ent  up  into  the  temple  to  pray, 
which  probably  touched  the  heads  of  that 
family;  and  I  felt  a  jftrong  oppolition  in 
them,  and  perceived  the  paffage  was  not 
pleafing  to  our  interpreter.  I  could  not 
make  off  my  burden,  yet  was  preferved 
quiet  in  my  mind,  having  honeftly  done 
my  part,  and  fo  returned  to  Twifk,  where 
the  meeting  was  held  for  both  villages,  and 
which  on  firft  day  morning  was  pretty 
large,  friends  being  generally  there;  but 
our  interpreter  had  moft  of  the  time,  fo 
that  he  was  too  much  fpent  to  interpret  much 
for  me.  Several  not  profeffing  with  us  at- 
tended in  the  afternoon,  and  I  had  a  fatif- 
factory  time  with  them  early  in  the  meet- 
ing, when  an  awful  fenfe  of  truth  feemed 
to  be  over  us,  after  which  our  interpreter 
had  fomething  further  to  fay.  I  have  often 
lamented  the  increafe  of  words,  ana  a  repe- 
tition of  former  experiences,  without  the 
renewing  of  life;  which  difpofition  feems 

to 


186     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

to  prevail  in   too    many,     to    the  burdening 
feniible  members  in  our  fociety. 

As  we  fat  this  evening  at  a  friend's  houfe 
at  Twilk,  two  elderly  women  came  in,  pro- 
fefibrs  of  truth,  but  very  talkative.  I  had 
feen  them  feveral  times  before,  and  as  often 
been  burdened  with  them,  and  now  had 
fomething  rin  particular  to  fpeak,  but  feared 
that  fuch  plain  dealing  would  be  too  flrong 
for  our  interpreter,  who  appeared  to  be  very 
fociable  with  them.  Therefore  I  delivered 
my  mind,  without  fingling  them  out,  feve- 
ral others  being  prefent.  Thefe  women  took 
it  to  themfelves,  but  not  in  fuch  a  difpofi- 
tion  as  I  defired,  being  diflurbed ;  and  fol- 
lowing us  to  our  lodgings,  made  their  com- 
plaint to  our  interpreter,  bidding  him  afk 
me,  if  I  took  them  to  be  fuch  perfons  as  I 
had  defcribed :  if  fo,  they  delired  to  know 
what  I  had  to  accufe  them  with.  At  firft  it 
put  me  to  a  fland,  but  being  ftill,  I  foon 
thought  it  was  providential,  that  they  thus 
gave  me  an  opportunity  to  clear  myfelf  of 
the  burdan  I  had  borne  on  their  account, 
and  told  them,  that  to  enter  into  particular 
charges  was  not  my  bufmefs ;  but  was  free 
to  let  them  know  that  I  had  been  in  pain 
on  their  account  from  the  firft  time  I  faw 
them,  and  that  if  I  had  a  true  fenfe  of  their 
ftates,  they  were  not  fuch  as  they  ought  to 
be,  but  had  loft  the  favour  of  what  they 
profeiTed  to  enjoy,  and  could  fo  freely  talk 
of,  *  and  told  one  of  them  that  I  took  her 

'  to 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     187 

to    be  dark,    and    ignorant   of   her  own 
ftate;    and    the  other,    that   me   was  too 
light  and  chaffy  in  her  fpirit;    and  that 
they  both    wanted   the   true  clothing    of 
the   Lord's   children,    which    is  humility 
of  heart,   and  reverence  of  fpirit;  which 
would    feafon   all    their   converfation    and 
conduit,  that  they  would  not  be  tumbling 
blocks   to   their   neighbours,    as   I   feared 
they  were.     I  alfo   told  them,  that  I  be- 
lieved when  I  fpake  as  I  did  at  the  friend's 
houfe,  it  belonged  to  them,    in  which  I 
was   now  confirmed;    for   had  they  been 
fincere-hearted,  they  would  have  born  it 
without    flinching;    but    now     they   had 
fhewn  that  their  fore  places  were  touched, 
and   I  dared  not   to  leiFen  the   weight  of 
what  was  then  faid,  but  deiired  them  to 
receive  and  ponder  it  well ;  for  I  was  fure 
it  was    delivered  in  love,  and  believed  it 
to    be  a  vifitation    to    them  in    their  old 
age.'     Which  being  interpreted  to  them, 
they    fpake   fomething    to   the    interpreter, 
which  I  did  not  underftand.     Then  one  of 
them  faid,  me  had  yet  love  in  her  heart  for 
me.      I    told  her,  that   1  had  nothing  but 
good  will  towards   her,   and   fo   they   went 
away. 

After  which  the  interpreter  told  me,  he 
had  known  thefe  women  many  years ;  that 
I  had  a  true  fenfe  of  them,  and  he  had  de- 
livered my  words  honeftly,  and  hoped  they 
would  do  them  good. 

We 


i88    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

We  next  had  a  meeting  with  friends  of 
Twifk  by  themfelves,  in  a  private  houfe,  in 
which  we  were  favoured  with  the  favour  of 
truth ;  the  fincere-hearted  being  refreshed, 
and  the  diforderly  warned  to  be  more  care- 
ful. 

After  taking  fome  refremment,  we  hailed 
to  attend  another  meeting  appointed  for  us 
at  Abbey-Kirk  in  the  afternoon,  which  was 
held  in  the  fame  houfe  where  I  felt  the  op- 
pofition  before  mentioned.  I  foon  was  fen- 
iible  of  fome  matter  in  my  mind  to  divide 
to  the  people  j  firft  to  a  low,  afflicted  ftate, 
and  things  opened  pretty  clear,  and  were 
interpreted  readily;  but  proceeding  to  the 
other  ftates,  I  felt  the  current  obftructed, 
and  the  force  of  my  fentences  evaded,  and 
had  a  fenfe  that  the  minds  of  the  friends  of 
that  houfe  were  fhut  up  againft  what  I  had 
to  deliver,  fo  I  forbore  going  on,  and  the 
interpreter  foon  began,  and  continued  to 
fpeak  near  an  hour.  When  he  had  done,  I 
felt  a  great  weight  on  my  mind,  and  delired 
him  to  interpret  a  few  fentences  for  me. 
He  did  not  feem  very  free,  faying,  '  Let  it 
'  be  fhort,  then.'  The  fuhftance  was,  '  that 
'  I  had  come  in  love  to  fee  them,  and  was 
'  in  no  way  prepofleiTed  or  informed  con- 
'  cerning  any  perfon  or  cafe  among  them ; 

*  yet  found  they  were  ihut  up  again  ft  what 
'  I  had    to    deliver :    neverthelefs,    I   could 

*  not  be  eafy  without   letting  them  know, 

*  that   1    did  believe,   unlefs   they  humbled 

*  them- 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     189 

*  themfelves,   and  were  {tripped  from  that 

*  felf-righteous  wholenefs,  wherewith  they 

*  had  clothed  themfelves,  they  never  would 
'  grow   in  the   life    of   true    religion,    but 

*  would  be  as  ftumbling-blocks  to  the  fin- 
'  cere-hearted  among  them;'  fo  I  went  out 
of  the  houfe,  and  returned  to  our  lodging, 
not   having   freedom    to    flay   there   longer. 
Our  interpreter,  who  tarried  with  them  af- 
ter we  were  gone,  told  me  that  they  judged 
a  certain  friend,  who  had  been  in  Holland 
fome    time    before,    and  fpoken  very  cloiely 
to  them,  had  informed  me  concerning  them; 
and   I  thought  the  interpreter  alfo  favoured 
that  fentiment,  which  made  me  not  to  won- 
der at  the  oppofition  I  had  felt  both  in  him 
and  them.     Whereupon    I   told  him,    that 
until  that  time  I  never  knew  that  the  friend, 
whom    they  thus  judged,    had    been  there, 
and  that  I  had  never  heard  of  their  names, 
nor  the  name  of  the    town,    until   I  came 
with    him,    and   delired   him  to  give   it  in 
charge  to  a  friend  of  Twifk,  who  was  pre- 
fent  with  us,  to  let  thofe  friends  know  from 
me,  what  I  then  faid  of  my  innocency. 

Feeling  myfelf  now  pretty  eafy  refpecling 
that  place,  we  returned  towards  Amfterdam, 
accompanied  by  two  friends,  to  Hoorn, 
where  no  friends  now  live,  though  formerly 
there  were,  and  fometimes  meetings  have 
been  held  there.  And  I  had  fome  thoughts 
of  having  one,  but,  being  under  difcourage- 
ment,  had  almofl  concluded  to  proceed  on 

our 


190     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

our  way  j  but  in  walking  through   the  city 
to  the  fkute,  which  was  to  fet  off  for  Am- 
fterdam  in  a  few  minutes,  I  felt  my  mind 
affected  with  a  fenfe  that  my  great  and  good 
Mailer  was  near,   and  defired  with   earneft 
breathings    to    know  his    will :    and    if  he 
would  be  pleafed  to  be  with  me,  I  was  wil- 
ling to  do  the  fame,  as   he   mould   require 
and  enable  me.     I   then  felt  fuch  a  ftream 
of  love  towards  the  inhabitants,  that  I  was 
convinced  there  was  a  vifitation  to  them,  as 
though    the  Lord  would  in  his  own   time 
gather   a   people  there.     As  yet  I  had  not 
difclofed  my  mind   to  any  one,  although  I 
felt  a  draught  back;  when,  feeing  a  young 
man  in  the  ftreet,  I  deiired  the  interpreter 
to  alk  him  if  he  thought  we  could  have  a 
meeting  in  that  town ;  to  which  he  readily 
anfwered,  that  he  believed  we  might,  and, 
taking   hold    of  my   baggage,    faid,    if  we 
would  pleafe   to    return    to    his   houfe,    he 
would  endeavour  to  procure  a  place,  and  ac- 
quaint the  people;  which  he  very  punctually, 
and  with   great  fpeed  performed.     And  we 
met   about    four  in   the    afternoon,    at   the 
houfe  of  Cornelius  Olyilager,  and  had  a  good 
opportunity,  with  a  tender,  friendly  people, 
ieveral  of  whom  were  reached  and  tendered 
by  the  virtue  and  favour   of  truth,   which 
fpread  freely :  for  which   the  Giver  of  all 
good  was  reverently  praifed,  who  is  worthy 
for  ever.      The   people   departed  in   much 
love,  and   we  returned  to  the  young  man's 

houfe, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     i9I 

houfe,  where  we  were  affectionately  enter- 
tained that  night.  We  mould  have  been 
glad  to  have  converfed  with  the  people,  but 
could  not  underftand  their  language,  yet  had 
a  fenfe  that  they  were  fatisfied  with  the 
meeting. 

Being  accompanied  by  this  kind  young 
man,  Dirk  Mefchaert,  our  landlord,  to  the 
track-  fkute,  we  took  leave,  with  tears  on 
each  lide,  and  arriving  at  Amfterdam,  we 
fat  with  friends  that  afternoon  in  their 
week-day  meeting,  to  fatisfaction  -y  having 
travelled  in  North  Holland  about  feventy- 
four  miles,  by  boat  and  waggon.  We  then 
vilited  the  remainder  of  friends  families  in 
this  city,  'and  were  comforted  therein,  the 
Lord  being  pleafed  to  own  our  labour,  and 
I  pray  it  may  be  bleffed  to  them.  On  firft 
day  morning  we  had  a  large  folid  meeting, 
at  which  were  feveral  ftrangers,  particularly 
two  young  men,  Italians,  fuppofed  to  be 
princes,  who  behaved  well;  alfo  many  of 
the  citizens,  who  had  never  been  at  a  friends 
meeting  before.  The  afternoon  meeting 
was  alfo  large ;  but  fome  of  the  lower  fort, 
who  came  to  gaze  out  of  curiofity,  behaved 
rudely ;  yet  it  ended  better  than  I  expected. 
There  feemed  to  be  an  opennefs  in  many  to 
hear  the  teflimony  and  principle  of  truth  de- 
clared ;  but  it  is  a  dull  way  to  fpeak  by  an 
imperfect  interpreter. 

On  the  twenty  -  fecond  of  the  eighth 
month,  was  held  what  they  call  their  yearly- 
meeting, 


192     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

meeting,  which  was  attended  by  feveral  not 
of  our  fociety  -,  but  it  has  little  more  than 
the  name  of  a  yearly-meeting,  the  difcipline 
of  truth  being  much  loft. 

Feeling  fome  concern  ftill  to  continue  on 
my  mind  towards  the  friends  at  Abbey-Kirk, 
where  I  was  fenfible  of  the  oppofition  be- 
fore hinted,  I  had  freedom  to  write  them  a 
letter;  but  on  confidering  that  the  friend 
and  his  wife  to. whom  I  wrote  were  perfons 
of  note,  I  was  fearful  that  their  refentment 
might  hurt  fome  others ;  and  having  a  ten- 
der concern  towards  the  lincere-hearted,  it 
was  with  me  to  prepare  the  way  by  writing 
an  epiftle  to  friends  of  the  meeting  atTwifk, 
to  which  thofe  of  Abbey-Kirk  do  allb  be- 
long; both  which  I  got  a  friend  of  Am- 
fterdam  to  tranilate.  That  to  the  meeting  I 
fent  immediately,  that  it  might  be  read  on 
a  firft  day,  and  directed  the  other  to  be  fent 
foon  after. 

That  to  friends  at  Twifk  was  as  follows  : 

'  Dear  Friends, 

E  honeft  and  fincere  hearted 
amongft  you,  I  falute  in  Gofpel 
love :  and  as  I  do  believe  there  is  a  fmall 
remnant  that  are  defirous  to  know  and 
witnefs  the  peace  of  God  in  your  hearts, 
and  a  fure  hope  of  receiving  the  anfwer  of 
well  done  at  the  conclufion  of  your  time 
in  this  world,  mind  the  ijiftrudlions  of 

<  the 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     193 

*  the  Spirit  of  Chrift  Jefus    in   your   own 
hearts ;  for  it  is   that  which  leads  into  all 

*  truth:    it  mews   unto  man   of  what  fort 
'  the  thoughts  of  his  heart  are,  and  it  wit- 

*  nefTeth  again/I  every  bad  word  and  action . 
f  It  was   the  Spirit  of   Truth   that  taught 

*  the  children  of  God  in  all  ages.     It  was 
'  by   this  Spirit  of  Truth  that  our  worthy 

*  elders  were  led  from  the  lo-here's  and  lo- 

*  there's  which  are  in  the  world:    it  efta- 
'  blifhed  them  on  the  true  foundation,  viz. 

*  the  revelation  or  teaching  of  the  Spirit  of 

*  God  in  their  own  hearts.     By  this  they 
'  were    upheld   under    fore   afflictions,    and 

*  outward  fufferings,    from  the  powers    of 

*  the  earth.     By  this  they  were  preferved  in 
'  the  unity  of  die  fpirit,    in   the  bond  of 

*  peace. 

*  Dear  friends,  beware  of  letting  out  your 
'  minds  after  the  doctrines  and  teachings  of 
'  men,  who  have  not  the  .word  of  Life 
'  committed  to  them,  to  preach  in  the  love 
'  and  power  of  truth :  for  if  ye  do,  ye 
'  will  be  unftable  and  wavering;  and  a  wa- 
'  vering  man  is  as  a  wave  of  the  fea,  tofTed 

*  to  and  fro  with  every  contrary  wind  of 
'<  doctrine.     Neither  look  you  too  much  to 

*  the  example  one  of   another,  but  wait  to 

*  receive  in  yourfelves,  a  fenfe  of  what  ye 

*  ought  to  do,  and  to  join  with,  and  what 
'  ye  ought  to  be  feparated  from ;  then  will 

*  ye  be  able  to  judge  what  you  hear  and  fee, 

*  becawfe  you  have  the  fpirit  of   truth    in 

O  '  your 


194     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 


*  your  own  hearts  ;  for  that  is  the  true 

'  judge,    and  guide,    which   leads  into   alt 
'  truth. 

'  Since    I  was  with  you,    I   have   often? 

*  thought,  that  you  will  never  grow  ftrong; 
'in    the   truth,    nor    teach   the    principles 
'  thereof  one  to  another,  until  you  be  obe- 

*  dient  thereunto  in  your  own  hearts,  and 

*  aft  and  behave  in  all  things  according  to 

*  the   pure    witnefs    thereof    in   your   own 
'  felves.     This  makes  living,  found,  fteady 

*  members,  zealous  both  of  love  and  good 
'  works,  in  .themfelves,  and  amongft  their 
'  brethren  and  lifters. 

'  Dear  friends,  be  careful  to  meet  toge- 

*  ther,  and  admonim    thofe   that  fall  mort 

*  of  their  duty  herein.     And  when  you  are 
'  afTembled,  wait  on  the  Lord  with  a  mind 

*  turned  inward;  and  if  ye  do  wait  in  faith 

*  and  patience,  the  Lord  will  be  found  of 

*  you,    and  reveal  himfelf  in   the  midft  of 

*  you,  to  your  comfort  and  confolation. 

'  With  fincere  delires    that    every   good 

*  thought,    and    fecret     enquiry    after    the 

*  knowledge  of  God,  in  each  of  your  hearts,, 
'  may  be  ftrengthened  and  blefled,.  do  I  re- 

*  main  your  affectionate  friend, 

'  JOHN  CHURCHMAN/ 

*  Amfterdam,  23d  of  the 
*  8th  month,  1753.' 

A  copy  of  my  letter  to  the  friend  and  his 
yife  here  follows. 

"  My 


*F  JOHN  CHURCHMAN,    igg 

e  My  Friends* 

C  T  Have  had  an  exercife  on  my  mind  ever 

JL   '  fince  I  came  firft  into  your  houfe>  to 

^  vifit  your  family,  which  was  on  the  elc- 

'  venth  inftant.     I  came  an  entire  ilranger, 

*  free  from  any  information  from  man  con- 

*  cerning  you ;   but  as  foon  as  I  came  into 
'  the    houfe,    I   felt   the   innocent   life  of 

*  truth,  and  pure  feed  of  the  kingdom,  op- 

*  prefled  in  you. 

*  Our  dear  Lord  faid,  "  Learn  of  me, 
"  for  I  am  meek  and  low  of  heart."  '  His 
'  Spirit  in  us,  if  we  take  heed  thereto,  will 

*  teach  us  to  be  meek  and  low  in  heart.  At 
'  this  day  his  teaching  is  the  fame,  and  will 

*  remain  to  be  fo  to  all  his  followers  for 

*  ever.      O  may  you  be  humble,  for  it  19 

*  the  humble  that   the  Lord  doth  teach  of 

*  his   ways  -,    and  the  meek   he    guides  in 

*  judgment :   but  the  whole  and    felf-righ- 

*  teous,  who  are  wife  in  their  own  eyes,  and 

*  prudent  in   their  own  conceit,  the  Lord 

*  will  hide  the  myfleries  of  his  pure  wif- 

*  dom  from  thefe;  but  to  the  babes,  who 

*  are  truly  changed,  and  born  from  above; 
'  and  thofe  fucklings,  who  are  weaned  from 
c  the  breafts  of  the  world,  and  its  wifdom, 
'  and  are  leaning  on  the  breaft  of  Chrift, 
'  their  beloved,  defiring  the  fmcere  milk  of 
'  his  word,   that  they  may  grow  thereby; 

*  unto  thefe  the  Lord  will  reveal  true  know- 

Q  2  '  ledge, 


196     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  ledge,  and  wifdom  from  above :  and  that 
'  wifdom  is  pure,  peaceable,  gentle,  and 
'  eafy  to  be  intreated ;  and  thofe  that  have 
'  the  fame  in  poflemon,  they  have  the  fea- 
'  foning  virtue  of  truth :  they  have  fait  in 
c  themfelves,  and  are  therefore  preferved  in 
'  peace  and  unity  with  the  pure  truth,  and 
'  alfo  one  with  another.  Such  profeffors, 

*  who  inwardly  know,  and  receive  the  mofl 
'  holy  faith,  they  know  the  fame  to  work 
'  in  them  by  love,  to  the  purifying  of  their 

*  hearts.     Thefe  are  Jews  inward,  circum- 
'  cifed  in   heart,  true  Ifraelites   indeed,    in 

*  whom  there  is   no  guile  :  and  their  righ- 

*  teoufnefs  exceeds  that  of  the  Scribes  and 

*  Pharifees.' 

*  I  heartily  wim  that  you  may  (in  your 
'  old  age)  be  concerned  to  know  the  life  of 

*  pure  religion ;  a  fenfe  of  the  want  thereof 

*  in  your  family,  burthened  my  life  whilft 

*  I  was  in  your  houfe,  which  was  the  reafon 

*  why  I  could  not  be  free  to  eat  and  drink 

*  with  you. 

(  In  order  to  difcharge  myfelf  towards 
'  you,  have  I  written  thefe  few  lines,  de- 
'  firing  that  you  may  examine  yourfelves, 

*  and  fee  if  there   be  not  a  caufe, — and  in 
'  the  love  of  truth,  which  leads   us  to  deal 
'  plainly  one  with  another, 

'  I  remain  your  real  friend  and  well-wifher, 
'  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.* 

«  Amfterdam,  23d  of  the 
-«  Sth  month,  1753.' 

We 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     197 

We  continued  with  friends  in  this  city, 
and  attended  their  two  meetings  on  firft  day, 
and  in  the  evening  had  an  opportunity  with 
feveral  to  fatisfa&ion ;  for  our  love  rather 
increafed.  Next  morning,  feeling  my  mind 
clear  of  friends  in  Holland,  I  was  eafy  to 
return  towards  England,  and,  accompanied 
by  feveral  to  the  fkute,  we  took  leave,  and 
went  to  Turgow  by  water,  from  thence  by 
waggon  to  Rotterdam,  in  all  about  forty- 
two  miles.  There  are  no  members  of  our 
fociety  left  in  this  city.  We  went  to  fee  the 
meeting-houfe,  and  had  fome  thoughts  of 
having  a  meeting,  but  being  the  time  of  a 
great  fair,  which  occafioned  a  concourfe  of 
rude  people,  there  was  no  profpe£i  of  having 
one  to  advantage. 

John  Vanderwaarf,  junior,  came  with  us 
to  Rotterdam,  with  whom  we  parted  in 
much  love  early  on  fourth  day  morning,  the 
twenty-ninth  of  the  eighth  month,  and 
went  on  board  the  lame  {hip  which  brought 
us  hither ;  it  having  made  a  voyage  to  Eng- 
land and  back  fince.  We  failed  with  a  fair 
wind  down  the  Maefe  to  the  Briell  before 
noon,  when  it  becoming  contrary,  we  lay 
at  anchor  until  firft  day  morning,  then  pro- 
ceeding, we  pafTed  over  the  dangerous  fands, 
and  fo  to  fea,  and  arrived  at  Yarmouth  about 
one  the  next  day,  and  had  a  meeting  with 
friends  the  fame  evening. 

In  this  journey  to  Holland,  we  travelled 
by  fea  and  land  about  five  hundred  miles. 

O  3  From 


198     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

From  Yarmouth  we  went  in  a  chaife  to 
Norwich,  where  friends  were  rejoiced  to 
fee  us,  and  we  were  thankful  for  our  fafe; 
return.  And  being  concerned  to  fpend  fome 
more  time  among  them  in  this  city,  we  vi- 
fited  a  few  families,  and  attended  their 
monthly-meeting,  alfo  their  two  meetings 
on  firft  day,  which  were  dull  and  heavy. 
The  minds  of  the  people  being  too  much 
outward,  I  found  it  my  place  to  recommend 
jQlence  by  example  more  than  by  words,  in 
both  thofe  meetings. 

Next  day,  in  company  with  other  friends, 
I  went  to  vilit  Hannah  Lucas,  a  fchool- 
miftrefs,  who  was  newly  convinced.  She 
was  in  a  low  ftate  of  mind.  Our  vifit  wa$ 
to  mutual  fatisfaction,  being  comforted  to- 
gether. 

At  their  week-day  meeting  on  third  day, 
I  had  a  feafonable  time  to  difcharge  my 
mind  towards  friends  in  that  city,  in  which 
I  was  led  to  deal  plainly  with  them.  They 
are  a  loving  people  to  ilrangers  and  each 
other,  but  there  is  a  want  of  weightinefs  of 
fpirit,  and  of  a  proper  care  in  the  exercife 
of  the  difcipline  of  the  church. 

Before  my  going  to  Holland,  I  was  at 
the  mop  of  a  barber  in  this  city  feveral 
times,  to  be  fhaved :  the  fecond  time  I  was 
there,  I  had  to  wait  a  while  for  my  turn, 
he  having  no  affiftantj  and  when  others 
were  gone  out,  he. told  me  he  was  forry  I 
had  to  wait,  and  hoped  he  ihould  have  my 

cuftom  : 


OP  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

cuftom :  and  that  if  I  would  come  on  Sa- 
turdays and  Wednefdays,  in  the  forenoon, 
I  need  not  wait;  but  in  the  afternoon  others 
came.  I  alked  him  what  days  in  the  week 
thofe  were  which  he  called  Saturdays  and 
Wednefdays :  he  feemed  to  wonder  at  my 
ignorance,  but  knew  not  how  to  tell  me 
otherwife.  "  I  faid,  I  do  not  read  in  the 
fcriptures  of  any  days  fo  named:  he  replied, 
That  is  true.  For  what  reafon,  then,  faid 
J,  doft  thou  call  them  fo  ?  Becaufe  it  is  a 
common  cuftom,  faid  he.  Suppofe,  then, 
faid  I,  that  we  lived  in  a  heathen  country, 
among  infidels,  who  worfhipped  idols, 
Should  we  follow  their  cuiloms,  becaufe 
common  ?  He  replied,  By  no  means.  I 
then  faid,  if  I  have  under/food  rightly,  the 
heathens  gave  the  days  of  the  week  thofe 
names.  I  never  heard  that  before,  faid  he ; 
pray  for  what  reafon  ?  I  anfwered,  they 
worfhipped  the  fun  on  the  firil  day  of  the 
week,  and  named  it  after  their  idol,  Sunday; 
the  moon  on  the  fecond  day  of  the  week, 
fo  came  Monday;  and  the  other  days  after 
other  idols,  for  they  had  many  gods.  Third 
day  they  called  Tuefday,  after  their  idol 
Tuifco;  and  after  the  idol  Woden,  fourth 
.day  they  called  Wednefday ;  and  fifth  day, 
after  their  idol  Thor,  they  called  Thurfday; 
from  Friga,  Friday ;  and  after  Saturn  they 
called  the  feventh  day,  Saturday.  And  as  I 
^believe  in  the  only  true  God,  and  Jefus 
Chrift,  whom  he  hath  font,  and  expect  eter- 
O  4  nal 


2oo     THE  LIFE   AND  TRAVELS 

rial  life  by  no  other  name  or  power,  I  dar£ 
not,  for  confcience  fake,  own  the  gods  of 
the  heathen,  or  name  a  day  after  them ;  but 
choofe  the  names  which  the  days  were  called 
by  when  the  Moil  High  performed  his  fe- 
veral  works  of  creation,  viz.  firft,  fecond, 
third,  and  fo  on,  which  is  fcriptural,  moil 
plain,  and  eafily  underftood. 

He  feemed  fomewhat  affected  with  the 
information,  and  I  defired  him  to  enquire 
into  the  matter  for  himfelf,  and  not  to 
think  that  I  defigned  to  impofe  upon  him. 
The  next  time  of  my  going  to  his  mop,  he 
ihewed  me  fome  papers,  whereon  he  had 
began  to  learn  algebra,  and  afked  me  how 
I  liked  it.  I  faid,  it  might  be  ufeful  to 
fome,  but  that  I  could  take  up  grubbing,  or 
follow  the  plough,  without  fludying  alge- 
bra? as  he  might  alfo  fhave  a  man,  &c. 
without  it.  Belides,  I  found  it  a  more  pro- 
fitable and  delightful  ftudy,  to  be  quietly 
employed  in  learning  the  law  of  the  Lord 
written  in  mine  own  heart,  fo  that  I  might 
walk  before  him  acceptably. 

On  my  return  from  Holland  to  Norwich, 
a  man  ran  to  me  in  the  flreet,  putting  a 
paper  into  my  hand,  and  immediately  left 
me,  whom  I  foon  found  to  be  this  barber. 
The  letter  contained  an  innocent,  child-like 
acknowledgment  to  me  for  my  freedom  with 
him,  as  is  before  mentioned,  in  language 
rather  too  much  mewing  his  value  for  me 
as  an  inftrument.  And  believing  him  to  be 

reached 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    201 

reached  by  the  love  of  truth,  and  in  mea- 
fure  convinced  of  the  principle  thereof,  I 
thought  it  beft  to  leave  him  in  the  Lord's 
hands  for  further  inftruction,  to  learn  by  the 
immediate  teachings  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
that  his  love  might  be  centered  on  the  true 
beloved  of  fouls;  for  want  whereof  many 
are  hurt,  looking  outward,  and  growing  in. 
head  knowledge,  feeking  the  efteem  and 
friendfhip  of  men,  from  whom  we  are  to 
ceafe;  his  breath  and  life  being  flopped  at 
the  Lord's  command. 

I  mention  this  paflage  with  a  view  to  ftir 
up  my  friends  of  the  fame  holy  profeffion, 
to  let  their  language  in  words  be  the  real 
language  of  truth  to  all  men,  in  purity  of 
fpirit,  and  not  to  name  the  days  of  the 
week  or  months  after  the  heathenim  idola^ 
trous  cuftoms,  faying  for  excufe,  that  they 
to  whom  they  fpeak  do  beft  understand 
them,  and  it  faves  them  any  further  expla- 
nation ;  which  excufe  is  far  from  proceed- 
ing from  a  difpofition  apt  to  teach,  and  let- 
ting the  light  of  truth  mine  as  they  ought. 
"  Neither  do  men,"  faid  our  blefled  In- 
ftructor,  "  light  a  candle,  and  put  it  under 
"  a  bufhel,  but  on  a  candleftick,  and  it 
"  giveth  light  to  all  that  are  in  the  houfe," 
Matt.  v.  21.  Nor  doth  the  Lord  enlighten 
his  candle,  that  is,  the  fpirit  of  man,  with 
the  pure  knowledge  of  truth,  that  we 
mould  cover  it,  either  with  an  eafeful  dif- 
pofition, to  fave  ourfelves  trouble,  or  hide 

the 


THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

the  work  thereof  under  the  covering  bumel 
of  worldly  faving  care,  after  the  gain  and 
treafure  of  this  world ;  but  that  it  may 
ftand  on  the  candlefKck,  and  thereby  crown 
thofe  who  are  thus  favoured  with  the  holy 
light,  that  as  a  city  fet  on  an  hill  they  can- 
not be  hid. 

The  corrupt  language  of  you  to  a  finglc 
perfon,  and  calling  the  months  and  days  by 
heathen  names,  are  efleemed  by  fome  to  be 
little  things ;  but  if  a  faithful  teftimony  in 
thefe  little  things  was  blefled  in  the  instance 
before  mentioned,  even  to  the  raifing  an 
earnefl  enquiry  after  the  faving  knowledge 
of  God  and  his  blefled  Son,  whom  to  know 
is  eternal  life;  perhaps  fuch  who  baulk 
their  teftimony  to  the  pure  talent  of  truth 
given  them  to  profit  withal,  may  one  day 
have  their  portion  appointed  with  the 
wicked  and  flothful  fervant  ;  fee  Matt.  xxv. 
24,  25,  &c. 

After  the  laft  mentioned  meeting  I  found 
my  mind  eafy  to  leave  Norwich,  a;id  went 
xvith  Richard  Brewfter  and  wife  to  Wy- 
mondham  that  evening,  and  next  day  to 
Edmondibury;  where,  feeling  an  engage- 
ment of  mind,  we  ftaid  eight  days,  attend- 
ing their  feveral  meetings,  and  monthly- 
meeting,  which  is  compofed  of  five  parti- 
cular meetings;  where,  .under  a  fenfe  of  a 
forward  formal  miniflry,  my  foul  mourned, 
and  was  clothed  with  forrow.  The  next 
day  we  had  a  precious  meeting,  and  the 

fame 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    303 

fame  evening  another  with  the  minifters  and 
folid  friends,  in  which  it  became  my  con- 
cern to  fet  forth  the  care  they  ought  to  ex- 
ercife  over  each  other,  and  how  neceffary  it 
was  to  deal  plainly  with  thofe  that  did  not 
keep  their  places.  Truth  owned  us  toge- 
ther, and  I  believe  the  opportunity  will  be 
remembered. 

My  mind  being  drawn  towards  Wales, 
my  companion,  John  Pemberton,  who  had 
been  with  me  three  years,  having  travelled 
together  in  much  love  and  unity,  inclining 
to  go  towards  London,  we  parted  in  the 
fame  love ;  and  I,  accompanied  by  my  kind 
friend  Richard  Brewfter,  went  to  Henry 
Gray's,  at  Godmanchefter,  in  Huntingdon- 
fhire  -,  and  the  next  day  to  Wellingborough, 
in  Northamptonmire,  and  were  at  their  two 
meetings  on  firft  day,  the  twenty-third  of 
the  ninth  month,  which  were  heavy,  for 
want  of  more  faithful  inv/ard  labourers. 
That  evening  I  had  alfo  a  fitting  with  a  fick 
friend. 

Next  morning  my  friend  Richard  Brewfter 
returned  homewards;  and  feveral  friends 
coming  to  take  leave  of  me,  I  had  an  op- 
portunity to  remark  to  them  the  reafon  that 
their  meetings  were  fo  dull  and  cloudy ;  for 
I  thought  I  clearly  faw  there  was  a  negledl 
among  them  of  putting  the  difcipline  in 
practice,  where  dilbrders  were  evident ;  and 
that  this  neglecl:  had  caufed  them  to  fuffer, 
which  would  ilill  continue  and  increafe, 

until 


204     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

until  they  fet  the  teftimony  of  truth  ovcf 
the  heads  of  fuch  who,  by  diforderly  walk- 
ing, had  brought  a  reproach  thereon.  The 
friends  were  affected,  and  acknowledged  they 
believed  it  to  be  the  cafe  amongft  them. 
We  parted  in  tendernefs,  and  I  proceeded 
on  my  journey,  with  an  income  of  folid 
peace,  and,  after  riding  thirty-feven  miles, 
reached  Banbury,  in  Oxfordshire,  and  the 
next  day  Eatington,  in  Warwickshire,  where 
I  met  with  my  friends  Richard  Partridge  and 
Mary  WeSlon,  of  London,  and  we  were 
truly  glad  to  fee  each  other,  fpending  the 
day  together,  and  had  a  meeting  with  friends 
in  the  evening,  to  our  mutual  comfort.  We 
went  in  company  to  Warwick  and  Coventry, 
and  at  the  meeting  at  the  laft  place,  which 
was  comfortable,  I  thought  1  feniibly  felt 
the  benefit  of  the  painful  labour  1  had  been 
exercifed  in  when  there  before.  Richard 
Partridge  returning  to  London,  Mary  Wef- 
ton went  with  me  to  the  quarterly-meeting 
at  Leicester,  which  began  with  a  meeting 
of  ministers  and  elders,  and  one  for  wor- 
fhip  and  difcipline  was  held  the  fame  day  : 
the  fervice  in  which  lay  heavy  upon  me, 
and  truth  favoured,  the  power  thereof  be- 
ing felt,  to  the  comfort  of  many.  And  I 
wiSh  that  feafon  may  not  be  forgotten  by 
the  members  of  that  meeting.  On  the  firft 
day  following  I  went  to  a  general  meeting 
at  Badgeley,  and  had  an  evening  meeting  at 
Daniel  Lythal's,  at  Polefworth,  who  hath  a 

large 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    205, 

large  family  of  hopeful  tender  children.  I 
next  went  to  Allen  England's,  at  Tamworth, 
and  had  a  fatisfadtory  opportunity  in  his  fa- 
mily, to  which  I  had  felt  a  drawing  in  my 
mind  for  fome  time;  but  did  not  know  that 
it  would  fall  fo  in  the  way  to  the  quarterly- 
meeting  at  Stafford,  which  I  attended,  and 
there  met  my  friend  Jofhua  Tofft,  in  com- 
pany with  whom  I  returned  to  Rudgeley, 
and  next  day  had  a  meeting  at  the  widov^ 
Morris's,  and  another  that  evening  at  Ut- 
toxeter :  from  thence  to  Leek,  and,  after  a 
favoured  meeting,  went  home  with  Jofhua 
to  Harugate,  where,  after  refting  one  day, 
had  another  meeting  at  Leek,  and  an  op- 
portunity with  fome  friends  at  Jofhua 
Strangcnan's,  wherewith  I  had  a  degree  of 
peace. 

Accompanied  by  Jofhua  Tofft,  I  went  to 
a  general  meeting  at  Eaton,  in  Chefhire ; 
then  to  Macclesfield,  Stockpor.t,  Morley, 
and  Farnly,  the  laft  of  which  was  a  good 
meeting.  There  my  friend  Samuel  Fother- 
gill  met  me,  and  we  went  to  a  meeting  at 
Sutton.  The  next  day  Sufanna  Fothergill, 
and  her  brother  Alexander,  came  to  fee  me, 
and  we  had  a  comfortable  time  together  at 
Thomas  Hough's,  being  owned  by  truth. 
I  was  next  at  a  laborious  meeting  at  New- 
ton, though  it  ended  well;  and  after  it  I 
met  again  with  Jolhua  Tofft,  at  Edgebury, 
and  had  a  meeting  the  next  day  at  Middle- 
wich,  then  at  Nantwich,  andChefler;  from 

whence 


206     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

whence  rode  to  John  Bellows,  at  Stretton, 
My  travelling  and  labours  through  Chefhire 
was  in  a  particular  clofe  manner,  though 
there  are  fome  folid  friends  in  that  county. 

Faffing  to  Shrewfbury,  in  Shropshire,  I 
was  at  a  meeting  on  firft  day  at  Colebrook- 
dale,  and  had  fome  clofe  work;  but  truth 
feemed  to  give  victory :  and  in  the  evening, 
at  Abraham  Darby's  houfe,  had  an  oppor- 
tunity, in  which  the  teflimony  of  truth 
prevailed,  to  the  tendering  fome  high  and 
lofty  young  people ;  whofe  faults  were  told 
them  in  the  power  of  the  fearcher  of  hearts, 
for  which  the  Sincere  were  truly  thankful. 

Next  day  returning  to  Shrewfbury,  I  went 
to  vifit  Benjamin  Thomas  and  Richard  Bel- 
lows, who  had  been  confined  in  prifon 
about  four  years  and  a  half  for  their  con- 
fcientious  refufal  to  pay  tithes ;  and  we  had 
a  comfortable  feafon  together  in  the  jail, 
feeking  the  living  prefence  of  the  Lord, 
which  makes  his  people  free,  even  in  pri- 
fon s. 

The  day  following  had  a  meeting  in  this 
town,  and  one  in  the  evening,  at  the  houfe 
of  John  Young,  both  which  afforded  fome 
peace  -y  but  the  life  of  truth  is  at  a  low  Slate 
in  Shropshire,  and  the  profeflbrs  with  us 
few  in  number. 

I  then  paSTed  into  North  Wales,  to  Charles 
Lloyd's,  at  Dolobran,  in  Montgomeryshire, 
John  Young  being  with  me,  and  had  a  meet- 
ing there :  at  th^s  place  there  was  formerly 

*  a  large 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    207 

a  large  meeting,  but  it  is  now  much  de~ 
clined.  From  thence  we  went  to  Tyddeni- 
garrig,  in  Merionethshire,  and  had  a  meet- 
ing with  a  few  fmcere  friends  at  the  houfe 
of  Lewis  Owen.  After  which  I  proceeded 
on  my  vifit  to  the  other  meetings  in  this 
county :  firft  at  Llwindu,  in  the  family  of 
Humphry  Owen,  which  was  a  comfortable 
time,  though  no  other  friends  live  in  this 
place.  Then  at  the  houfe  of  John  Good-* 
win,  in  Efkirgoch,  in  Montgomery  mi  re, 
where  were  feveral  tender  friends ;  but  the 
living  are  fcarcely  able  to  bear  the  weight  of 
•thofe  profefTors,  who,  although  they  know 
the  truth,  do  not  abide  therein,  and  fo  are 
as  withered  branches  caft  forth.  Next  was 
a  pretty  large  and  fatisfactory  meeting  at 
Talcoyd,  in  Radnorfhire ;  then  at  Cwm,  and 
Gluerindrew,  and  on  a  firft  day  at  Penbank, 
where  are  many  profefTors,  though  but  few 
folid  friends.  After  which  at  Penplace  and 
Caermarthen,  which  laft  meeting  was  much 
to  my  fatisfadlion,  the  few  friends  here  be- 
ing of  the  better  fort.  From  hence  to  Ha- 
verfordweft,  with  friends  by  themfelves 
moftly;  and  flaying  their  meetings  on  firil 
day,  that  in  the  afternoon  was  open  and  fa- 
tis factory,  as  to  other  profeflbrs,  who  came 
in :  but  pride  and  woridly-mindednefs  hath 
much  hurt  the  members  of  our  fociety, 
though  there  are  a  few  tender  friends.  In 
the  evening  I  had  another  opportunity  with 
friends,  and  was  enabled  to  relieve  my  mind 


208     TH£  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

among  them  with  a  degree  of  thankfulnefs. 
Next  meeting  was  at  James  Town,  and  in 
the  evening  of  the  day  following  at  Larn, 
with  the  people  o'f  the  town,  who  behaved 
civilly,  but  feemed  barren  as  to  religion,  in 
a  right  fenfe.  There  is  but  one  in  this  town 
in  unity  with  friends,  and  he  feemed  near 
his  end,  whom  I  vilited.  After  croffing  a 
ferry  near  a  mile  broad,  not  without  great 
danger,  being  driven  on  more,  and  the  wind 
very  high,  the  boat  was  likely  to  fill  with 
water,  that  I  was  obliged  to  go  over  a 
marfh  to  Caermarthen,  being  thankful  for 
the  deliverance,  where  I  had  a  publick  meet- 
ing with  the  town's  people,  to  a  good  degree 
of  fatisfadtion  -,  and  next  morning  met  with 
my  brother,  William  Brown,  at  Swanzey, 
and  we  were  made  joyful  in  the  company  of 
each  other.  Here  we  had  two  meetings, 
and  another  with  friends  felected,  in  which 
he  got  fome  relief.  After  his  leaving  me 
here,  having  a  concern  on  my  mind,  I  vi- 
iited  the  families  of  friends,  though  not 
without  fear ;  but  felt  the  help  and  flrength 
of  my  great  and  good  Mafter,  who  furnimed 
me  with  power  and  fkill  to  difcharge  my 
duty,  both  to  the  lukewarm,  and  the  cor- 
rupt diforderly  profeflbrs,  without  wounding 
his  own  children,  fome  of  whom  there  are 
in  this  town.  I  flaid  their  meeting  on  fourth 
day,  which  feafon  being  divinely  favoured, 
I  pray  may  not  be  forgotten ;  the  power 
which  alone  can  enable  to  tread  on  fcorpions 

or 


OP  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    209 

or  ferpents,  and  preferve  from  the  force  of 
deadly  poifon,  being  over  all.  The  honour, 
praife,  and  glory,  be  afcribed  to  the  Lord, 
who  is  worthy  for  ever ! 

Next  day   I  refted,    and,    in  a  degree  of 
humble  thankfulnefs,  made  thefe  remarks. 

I  continued  many  days  longer  in  this 
town,  in  which  time  had  divers  meetings, 
fome  whereof  were  very  fatisfactory,  many 
of  the  town's  people  attending;  and  the 
good  hand  of  the  Lord  was  ftretched  forth 
towards  them,  for  which  I  was  truly  thank- 
ful. After  fpending  iixteen  days  among 
them,  I  went  to  LlantrifTent,  and  the  next 
day  had  a  meeting  at  Treveryg ;  then  one 
at  Hillary,  with  a  tender  enquiring  people ; 
alfo  at  Cardiff,  with  a  feeking  people,  who 
had  feparated  themfelves  from  the  publick 
worfhip,  and  met  together  in  filence :  this 
opportunity  was  an  inftructive  fealbn  to 
them.  On  the  firft  day  following  I  was  at 
Pontypool,  where  at  two  meetings  I  had 
many  clofe  things  to  deliver,  obferving  want 
of  order  among  them.  In  the  evening  had 
an  opportunity  with  fome  of  the  friends 
moft  active  in  the  difcipline,  and  endea- 
voured to  difcharge  myfelf:  and  on  third 
day  a  large  and  pretty  open  meeting.  Being 
detained  by  a  great  fnow,  I  had  another 
meeting  with  friends  of  the  foremoft  rank 
on  fixth  day,  in  which  I  cleared  my  mind 
of  a  great  burden,  which  I  had  borne  on 
account  of  a  formal  ministry  among  them. 
P  My 


210    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

My  next  meeting  was  at  Shire-Newton, 
which  was  pretty  large,  though  dull;  the 
favour  of  truth  being  much  loft  among 
friends  here:  yet  I  was  favoured  with  ftrength 
to  difcharge  myfelf.  And,  in  the  feeling 
fenfe  of  peace,  went  that  night  to  the  paf- 
fage  over  the  Severn,  and  next  day  to  Brif- 
tol,  my  friend  and  kind  landlord,  James 
Griffitts,  bearing  me  company  from  his 
own  houfe  at  Swanzey. 

On  third  day  I  attended  their  meeting  in 
Briftol,  but  fat  in  lilence,  and  was  very  heavy 
hearted,  under  a  fenfe  of  a  forward  fpirit, 
which  would  prompt  to  anfwer  the  expec- 
tations of  the  people,  and  is  apt  to  prevail 
on  fome  who  feem  to  be  called  to  the  work 
of  the  miniftry ;  but  truth  only  blefleth  its 
own  motion. 

I  continued  in  and  near  this  city  about 
four  weeks,  attending  their  feveral  meetings, 
but  did  not  feel  relief  from  the  burden  I 
was  under ;  and  on  the  fifteenth  of  the  firft 
month,  (1754)  hearing  that  my  brother, 
William  Brown,  was  at  Ann  Young's,  at 
Urcot,  I  went  there  to  fee  him,  and  we 
were  comforted  in  each  other's  company;  and 
next  being  their  meeting  day,  we  attended 
it  to  our  refreshment.  From  whence  we 
returned  together  to  Briftol,  where  we  tar- 
ried until  the  twenty-fixth,  in  which  time 
I  had  feveral  open  meetings,  which  fet  me 
at  liberty  to  leave  that  city ;  when  we  again 
parted,  and  I  took  meetings  at  Ulverftone, 

Thorn- 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN    211 

Thornbury,  Sodbury,  Didmerton,  Tedbury, 
and  two  at  Nailfworth,  and  another  there  in 
the  evening,  when  I  had  an  opportunity  to 
the  eafe  of  my  mind,  heavily  opprefTed  on 
account  of  the  formal  profeflbrs  of  truth,  to 
the  comfort  of  the  faithful,  which  caufed 
thankfulnefs. 

From  thence,  calling  to  vifit  the  widow 
Fowler,  who  was  in  affliction,  I  went  to 
meetings  at  Painfwick,  Gloucester,  Rofs, 
in  Herefordfhire,  Almerly,  Leominfter,  and 
Sifton,  where  I  vilited  the  wives  of  the 
two  friends  before  mentioned,  who  are  im- 
prifoned  at  Shrewfbury  for  their  teftimony 
againft  tithes.  Then  returning  to  Leominf- 
ter, attended  the  monthly-meeting  there, 
in  which  truth  owned  us ;  and,  taking  a 
meeting  at  Bromfgrove,  went  to  Worcef- 
ter,  and  on  firft  day  was  at  two  comfortable 
meetings,  and  another  on  third  day ;  and 
the  next  day  attended  the  quarterly-meet- 
ing, which  was  a  precious  time,  wherein 
friends  were  comforted.  And  finding  a 
concern  on  my  mind,  I  went  into  the  wo- 
men's meeting,  wherein  the  power  of  truth 
accompanied,  which  is  the  crown  of  our 
religious  meetings.  Here  is  a  tender  feed, 
efpecially  amongft  the  female  fex,  which 
will  thrive,  if  this  Divine  power  is  kept 
unto. 

Being  now  clear  of  this  city,  I  departed 
with  peace  to  meetings  at  Tewfkbury,  Chel- 
tenham, and  again  to  Nailfworth,  where  I 
P  2  was 


212     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

was  at  two  meetings,  which  though  hard, 
I  had  an  evidence  that  the  Lord  had  not 
forfaken  his  feeking  people.  After  attend- 
ing a  conference  with  feveral  friends  endea- 
vouring to  compofe  a  difference,  which 
ended  to  fatisfa£tion,  I  proceeded  to  the 
quarterly-meeting  for  Gloucefterfhire,  held  at 
Tedbury,  where  I  again  met  with  my  brother, 
William  Brown ;  Divine  goodnefs,  and  a 
degree  of  the  authority  of  truth  attending 
in  the  time  of  worfhip,  and  in  tranfacting 
the  affairs  of  the  church. 

Next  day  my  brother  went  to  Bath,  and 
I  to  Cirencefter,  where  I  had  a  hard  and 
dull  meeting,  the  profeffors  of  truth  having 
too  much  departed  from  the  favour  thereof. 
At  another  in  the  evening  I  had  an  evidence 
of  having  difcharged  my  duty.  Then  pro- 
ceeded to  meetings  at  Farringdon,  in  Berk- 
fhire,  Letchlade,  Burford,  in  Oxfordshire, 
Milton,  Stow  in  Gloucefterfhire,  Chip- 
ping-Norton,  Charlbury,  Witney,  Abing- 
don,Warborrow,  North  End,  and  from  thence 
to  High  Wycomb,  where,  the  weather  be- 
ing very  cold,  I  tarried  fix  days,  viiiting 
feveral  families  of  fick  friends  ;  and  the  laft 
publick  meeting  being  in  the  evening,  many 
of  the  town's  people  attended,  and  it  was  a 
folid  opportunity.  From  thence  I  went  to 
Amermam,  though  with  difficulty,  on  ac- 
count of  the  mow,  and  on  firft  day  had  a 
meeting  at  Chemam  -,  then  to  Hempftead, 
and  had  there  a  meeting,  which  was  much 

enlarged 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    213 

enlarged  by  the  fcholars  of  Thomas  Squires's 
fchool,  feveral  of  whom  were  affefted.  Then 
having  a  good  opportunity  with  friends  at 
Alban's,  I  went  to  London,  where  I  re- 
mained feven  weeks  and  three  days,  vifiting 
the  meetings,  and  felt  much  of  the  weight 
and  burden  of  the  fervice  before  me  there  -t 
and,  in  the  opening  and  authority  of  truth, 
I  had  to  fpeak  to  the  prefent  flate  of  our 
fociety,  not  only  to  the  inftrudtion  of  the 
feeking  children,  and  comforting  .of  the 
mourners,  but  alfo  by  way  of  rebuke  to 
the  diforderly,  and  clofe  warning  to  the  re- 
bellious. 

During  my  continuance  here  I  felt  my 
mind  drawn  towards  Wiltshire,  and  thought 
of  attending  the  quarterly-meeting  there, 
but  on  the  day  on  which  I  expected  to  fet 
forward,  I  found  a  flop  in  my  mind, 
though  not  relieved  from  a  folid  concern, 
which  engaged  me  to  enquire  fecretly  what 
I  mould  do ;  for  notwithstanding  this  con- 
cern to  Wiltmire,  my  burden  refpedting 
London  feemed  rather  to  increafe;  but  as  I 
kept  quiet,  I  found  my  heart  warmed  in 
love,  and  my  mind  opened,  and  influenced 
to  write  an  epiftle  to  that  quarterly-meet- 
ing, which  with  thankfulnefs  I  then  efteemed 
a  great  favour  from  my  great  and  good  Maf- 
ter,  being  in  a  poor  ftate  of  health,  the 
weather  unfavourable,  and  the  journey  long. 
So,  in  the  opening  of  truth,  I  wrote  as  foK 
Joweth ; 

, P  3  'To 


214    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  To  Friends  in  Wiltfhire.' 

HAVING   had  ftrong  defires  in  my 
'  mind  for  your  welfare  in  the  truth, 

*  I  purpofed  to  have  attended  your  quarterly- 
'  meeting,  but  being  let  at  this  time,  and 

*  not  knowing  that  1  mall  ever  have  an  op- 

*  portunity  to  fee  you,  I  feel  a  freedom  to 
'  vifit  you  with  a  few  lines  in  the  opening 
'  and  love  of  truth,  which   flows  to  you- 
'  ward. 

'  Dear  friends,  male  and  female,  old  and 
'  young,  as  many  of  you  as  are  defirous  to 

*  be  called  the  children  of  God,  and  fol- 

*  lowers   of  Chrift  Jefus,  be   humble,  that 

*  you  may  be  taught  of  him ;  for  it  is  the 
s  humble  that  he  teaches  of  his  ways.    And 
'  be  ye  meek  and  low  in  heart,  that  you 

*  may  ferve  him  in  your  generation,  and  one 

*  another  in  his  pure  fear;  fo  you  will  know 

*  him  for  your  reft,  and  his  peace  your  quiet 

*  habitation. 

'  My  foul  hath  mourned,  and  is  in  fome 

*  degree    covered    therewith   at    this    time, 

*  under  a  fenfe  that  the  love  of  the  world, 

*  and    its    pleafures    and    earthly   delights, 
'  abound  in  too  many,   (which  is  iniquity) 
f  and  becaufe  thereof  the  love  of  many  to- 
'  wards  God  waxeth  cold  j  and  for  want  of 
f  witnefiing  the  love  of  God  in  a  pure  heart, 

*  the  mind  becomes  at  eafe,  lukewarm,  and 
f  indifferent  about  the  things  which  belong 

f  to 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    215 

to  our  peace  and  future  happinefs  :  and  fo 
fathers  and  mothers,  mafters  and  miftref- 
fes,  become  dull,  if  not  dead,  to  that 
holy  concern,  which  mould  ever  excite 
them,  both  by  example  and  precept,  to 
inftrucl:  and  train  up  their  children  and 
fervants  in  all  godlinefs  of  life  and  con- 

*  verfation. 

'  O  dear  friends !  fearch  your  hearts,  and 

*  diligently  enquire  whether  fomething  hath 
'  not  fubtilly  crept  in,  and  ftolen  away  your 
'  affections  from  God,  and  the  deep  atten- 
'  tion  of  your  minds  from  the  inftrudtions 

*  of  his  holy   fpirit  of  truth  :  and   if  this 
'  becomes  your  concern,  I  fully  believe  that 
'  the  Lord  will  blefs   you  with  enlightened 
'  minds  to  fee,  and  willing  hearts  to  give 
'  up  all  to  the  fire  and  fword  of  his  Word 
'  and  Spirit,  that  your  hearts  may  be  purged, 
'  and    made    tabernacles    and     temples    in 

*  which  he  would   take  delight   to  dwell : 
'  for  if  the  foul  is   chafte  in  love  to  God, 
'  and  the  eye  of  the  mind  (ingle  to  the  in- 

*  ftrudtion  of  the  fpirit  of  truth,   the  whole 

*  body  will   be  full  of  light.     It  is  herein 

*  that  the  children  of  God  are  preferved  fafe 
'  in  their  own  fecret  fteps  before  the  Lord, 
'  and  free  from  giving  occafion  of  /tumbling 
'  to  others. 

*  I  am  fully  perfuaded  there  is  a  remnant 
'  amongft  you,  who  feelingly  know  that  the 
'  living  fenfe  of  the  preience  and  power  cf 

*  God,  in  your  meetings  both  for  wormip 

P  4  «  and 


216     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  and  discipline,  is  not  plentifully  enjoyed, 
'  but  is  at  a  low  ebb :  and  it  is  in  my  mind 
'  to  let  you  know  what  has  appeared  to  me 
'  to  be  as  one  great  reafon,  viz.  there  are 
'  many  profefTors  of  the  truth  amongfl  you, 
'  who  delight  to  be  accounted  of  as  friends 
'  in  eSteem  in  the  fociety;  who  have  a 
'  fmooth  and  fawning  behaviour,  and  flat- 

*  tering  tongues,  and  do   feek  the  love  and 
'  friendship    of    fuch     who   are   friends    of 
'  truth,  for  their  own  honour  and  credit, 
'  and  the  reputation  of  felf.     Dear  friends, 
'  of  fuch   beware,    for   their   friendship  is 

*  poifon,  and   their  intimate   fellowship,  if 
'  cleaved   unto,  is  benumbing,  even  to  in- 

*  fenfibility.     And  for  want  of  a  clear  dif- 

*  covery  of  that  fpirit,  fome  of  the  tender 

*  and    fmcere-hearted  among  you  have  fuf- 
'  fered. 

*  In  whomfoever  earthly-mindednefs  pre- 

'  vails,  or  the  love  of  the  world,   and  its 

'  friendship,  there  is  a  fecret  giving  way  to, 

'  and  a  gradual  reconciliation  with,  its  for- 

*  did  practices ;  and  the  eye  that  once  faw 
'  in  the  true  light,  becomes  clofed  or  dim- 
'  med,  if  not  wholly  blinded  by   the   god 
'  of  this  world. 

f  Liberty  is   then  taken   by  parents,  and 
'  indulgence    is   given    to    their    children ; 

*  which  occalions   pain  and  diSlrefs  of  heart 
'  to  thole  who  have  not  loft  their  Sight  and 

*  feeling.     But  fome,  for  fear  of  being  re- 

*  buked  and  difefteemed  by  fuch  who  have 

'  a  fenfe 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     217 

*  a  fenfe  of  them,  will  court  their  affections; 

*  with   which    bait  they   have   been  taken, 
'  and  fo  have  been   afraid   to    fpeak    their 
'  minds  plainly,  left  they  mould  offend,  or 
'  drive  them  further  from  the  fociety :  con- 
'  eluding  there  is  a  tender  thing  in  them, 
'  becaufe  they  feem  to  love  friends.     And 
'  fb  many  who  might  have  made  great  pro- 

*  grefs  have  loft  ground,  for  want  of  fpeak- 

*  ing  truth  to  their  neighbours.     And  thus 

*  the    infection  of    pride,    libertinifm,   and 

*  earthly -mindednefs,  has  fpread  and  pre- 

*  vailed,  even  to  the  hurt  of  fome  families, 
'  that  were  once  exceedingly  grieved  there- 
4  with. 

'  Wherefore,  my  dear  friends,  fear  God 
'  with  a  perfect  heart,  and  in  his  light  watch 
'  over  your  own  felves  and  your  families ; 

*  fo  mall  your  hearts  be  warmly  influenced, 

*  and  filled  with  holy  zeal  and  love  to  God 

*  and  his  truth,  in  which  you  will  be  bold 
'  to  aft  in  your  meetings  for  difcipline;  and 
'  in  the  power  of  God,  which  is  the  autho- 

*  rity  of  the  church,  you  will  be  able  to 
'  judge  thofe    who   walk   diforderly;    and, 
'  being   faithful  therein,    you  will  remove 
'  the  {tumbling- blocks,  and  roll  away  the 
'  reproach  which  is  imputed  to  the  church. 

'  Then    would   the   Lord   feed   fuch  his 

*  faithful  labourers  with  his  heavenly  bread, 

*  and  honour  them  with  his  life-giving  pre- 

*  fence;  and  whether  the  diforderly  would 
'  hear  or  forbear,  the  Lord  would  be  the 

«  mield 


2i8    THE  LIFE  AND    TRAVELS 

*  fhield  and  exceeding  great  reward  of  his 

*  people,  and  fill  their  hearts  with  praife  to 
<  his  name,    who  is   worthy  for  ever   and 
'  ever ! 

*  JOHN  CHURCHMAN/ 

'  London,  the  4th  of  the 
«  4th  month,  1754.' 

*  Let  this  be  read  in  your  men's  and  wo- 

*  men's  meetings.' 

I  have  before  hinted,  that  in  my  travel- 
ling to  the  meetings  in  Wiltshire,  and  at- 
tending the  quarterly-meeting  in  the  feventh 
month,  Old  Stile,  1750,  I  was  ftraitened  to 
clear  myfelf  towards  them,  which  occafioned 
me  to  leave  them  in  pain  of  mind;  but 
now,  having  fent  them  this  epiflle,  I  was 
made  eafy,  believing  they  would  read  it, 
and  fend  copies  thereof  to  their  feveral 
monthly-meetings,  which  would  be  likely 
to  be  heard  by  more  friends,  than  if  my 
concern  had  been  delivered  in  the  quarterly- 
meeting  only.  Inclofing  it  to  an  innocent 
friend  at  Chippenham,  I  defired  him  to  de- 
liver it  to  the  faid  meeting,  which  I  after- 
wards understood  he  did,  and  that  friends 
had  anfwered  my  requefl. 

Now  feeling  my  mind  eafy  to  leave  Lon- 
don for  a  while,  J  went  to  Efher,  in  Surry; 
was  the  next  day  at  a  large  meeting  at 
Kingfton  on  Thames,  which  was  pretty  open 
as  to  doctrine  5  the  people  feemed  attentive, 

and 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN,    219 

and  feveral  much  tendered,     There  are  but 
few  friends  here. 

I  then  vifited  divers  other  meetings  in. 
Hampshire  and  Berkfhire,  being  made  thank- 
ful to  the  great  Author  of  all  good,  who 
had  been  with  me  in  the  journey,  under 
my  indifpolition  of  body.  Coming  to  Lon- 
don, I  met  with  many  friends,  from  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  nation,  in  order  to  attend 
the  yearly-meeting,  which  began  on  the 
fecond  day  of  the  fixth  month,  and  conti- 
nued ten  days,  being  a  very  large,  and  in 
the  main  a  folid  meeting.  Many  weighty 
affairs  relating  to  our  religious  fociety  were 
therein  considered;  it  was  then  alfo  agreed 
that  in  future  this  meeting  mould  begin 
with  a  meeting  of  minifters  and  elders,  on 
the  feventh  day  of  the  week,  at  the  third 
hour  in  the  afternoon,  that  enquiry  might 
be  made  into  the  flate  of  the  miniftry  in 
general,  which  I  hope  may  be  attended  with 
good  fervice  hereafter. 

On  the  eleventh  of  the  fixth  month,  and 
third  day  of  the  week,  after  the  parting 
meeting,  I  went  from  London  to  Marga- 
ret's, in  Hertfordshire ;  next  day  attended  a 
yearly-meeting  in  Hertford,  which  was  very 
large. 

The  next  day  I  accompanied  feveral 
friends  who  were  appointed  to  vifita  month- 
ly-meeting, the  members  of  which  paid 
tithes,  and  contended  for  liberty  fo  to  do 
without  cenfure.  We  had  a  conference  with 

them, 


220     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

them,  in  which  the  teftimony  of  truth 
being  fet  over  them  for  that  time,  they 
were  taken  and  confounded  in  their  own  ar- 
guments. 

After  this  I  attended  a  general  or  yearly- 
meeting  at  Baldock,  which  was  very  large 
and  fatisfaclory.  Returning  next  morning 
to  London,  I  was  truly  thankful  that  I  had 
been  enabled  to  attend  thefe  three  meetings, 
enjoying  great  peace  in  my  labours  there, 
which  lay  heavy  upon  me.  My  gracious 
and  good  Mailer  gave  me  wifdom,  boldnefs, 
and  ftrength,  to  clear  myfelf  in  the  love  and 
power  of  truth,  to  the  tendering  -of  many 
hearts :  may  I  ever  remember  his  mercies  to 
me,  and  be  enabled  to  blefs  and  praife  his 
holy  name,  who  is  worthy  for  ever  ! 

Continuing  in  and  near  London  about  ten 
days,  I  then  went  to  a  large  fatisfadtory 
meeting  at  Rochefter,  in  Kent,  where 
were  feveral  clergymen,  who  behaved  well. 
Next  morning  had  a  meeting  at  the  houfe 
of  Thomas  Crifp,  with  a  few  friends,  and 
divers  others.  Then  going  to  my  friend 
William  Patterfon's,  at  Canterbury,  I  was 
at  their  meeting  in  that  town,  and  the  day 
following  had  one  in  the  Ifle  of  Thanet, 
where  there  are  a  few  friendly  people.  The 
meeting  next  day  at  Dover  was  pretty  open. 
On  iirft  day  I  was  at  two  meetings  at  Folk- 
ftone,  which  were  dull  and  heavy,  though 
there  are  many  friends  in  that  place,  amongft 

whom 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     221 

whom  I  was  favoured  with  ftrength  to  eafe 
my  mind. 

I  then  vifited  the  meetings  at  Mermam, 
Amford,  Tenterden,  (to  which  friends  of 
Colebrook  came)  Gardnerftreet,  Lewes, 
Brighthelmftone,  Ifield,  Hormam,  Shipley, 
Arundel,  and  Chichefter;  when  finding  a 
concern  to  vifit  the  families  of  friends  in 
this  city,  I  fpent  two  days  in  the  fervice, 
and  had  fome  clofe  exercife,  though  a  good 
degree  of  peace.  I  alfo  attended  their  two 
meetings  on  firfl  day,  which  were  heavy  and 
laborious  :  for  though  here  are  fome  tender 
people,  yet  the  fpirit  of  the  world  has  brought 
a  blaft  on  feveral  proferTors. 

From  hence  I  went  to  Gofport,  in  Hamp- 
fhire,  where  we  had  a  meeting,  alfo  one  in 
the  evening  at  Portfmouth,  John  Griffith 
and  Jeremiah  Waring  being  with  me ;  then 
going  to  Southampton,  went  in  a  boat  to 
Cowes,  in  the  Ifle  of  Wight,  and  the  day 
after  had  a  good  meeting  at  Newport,  like- 
wife  one  in  the  evening  with  the  town's 
people.  After  another  opportunity  with 
friends,  returned  to  Cowes,  where  I  had 
another  with  a  few  of  our  brethren :  fo 
went  back  to  Southampton.  And  on  firft 
day,  the  twenty-firft  of  the  feventh  month, 
attended  two  meetings  at  Poole,  in  Dorfet- 
ihire,  which  were  dull  and  laborious :  a 
worldly  libertine  fpirit  has  brought  a  blaft 
on  many.  Next  day  we  had  a  meeting  with 

a  few 


222    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

a  few  friends  at  Weymouth ;  then  at  Brid- 
port :  truth  feems  at  a  low  ebb  in  Doriet- 
fhire.  The  next  meeting  was  at  Ringwood, 
in  Hampfhire,  which  was  dull :  where  the 
life  of  truth  is  not  abode  in,  people  will 
wither.  The  fame  evening  we  had  a  meet- 
ing to  pretty  good  fatisfaclion  at  Fording- 
bndge;  then  one  at  Alton,  at  which  place 
we  had  another  very  fatisfactory  meeting,  on 
firft  day ;  and  that  evening  at  Codalming. 
The  next  day  had  a  meeting  at  Capel,  in 
Surry,  and  in  the  evening  at  Darking;  on 
the  day  following  at  Ryegate,  and  in  the 
evening  at  Croydon.  From  whence  on 
fourth  day  morning,  the  thirty-firfl  of  the 
feventh  month,  coming  again  to  London, 
for  the  laft  time,  I  fpent  eight  days  more 
with  friends  in  that  city. 

On  my  coming  here  from  Alban's,  on  the 
nineteenth  of  the  third  month  before  men- 
tioned, I  felt  great  fear  to  poflefs  my  mind, 
having  at  fundry  times  before  fpent  about 
thirteen  weeks  in  that  city,  moftly  under  a 
clofe  exercife  of  fpirit,  without  an  opennefs 
to  fay  much,  in  publick  or  private,  to  ob- 
tain relief:  fo  that  to  go  thither  again  ap- 
peared to  me  like  entering  into  a  cloud,  al- 
though I  was  fecretly  bound  in  fpirit  to 
proceed.  But  attending  all  the  meetings  as 
they  came  in  courfe,  I  felt  a  gradual  open- 
nefs and  ftrength  to  declare  thofe  things, 
which  before  had  been  fealed  up ;  being  now 

made 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     223 

made  fenfible  that  every  opening  or  vifion, 
which  the  Lord  is  pleafed  to  manifeft  to  his 
fervants,  are  not  for  immediate  utterance : 
but  the  Lord,  who  gives  judgment,  mould 
be  carefully  waited  upon,  who  only  can 
{hew,  by  the  manifeftation  of  his  heavenly 
light,  the  time  when,  and  by  the  gentle 
putting  forth  of  his  arm  of  power,  abilitates 
in  the  opening  of  his  fpirit,  which  giveth 
tongue  and  utterance  to  fpeak  the  word  of 
truth,  in  the  demonftration  of  the  fpirit  and 
power;  that  openeth  a  door  of  entrance  in 
the  hearts  of  them  who  hear.  Our  dear 
Lord  faid,  "  For  it  is  not  ye  that  fpeak,  but 
"  the  Spirit  of  your  Father,  which  fpeaketh 
"  in  you,"  Matt.  x.  20. 

Now  as  my  fervice  opened  and  ftrength 
increafed,  I  was  invited  by  fome  to  their 
houfes  to  dine,  who  before  'looked  on  me 
with  indifference,  but  now  faid  they  mould 
be  glad  to  fee  me  there,  to  be  more  ac- 
quainted; but  as  I  felt,  on  my  fir  ft  arrival 
in  this  city,  a  fecret  prohibition  from  going 
much  from  houfe  to  houfe,  without  inward 
leave,  fo  now  the  lame  reftraint  continued 
with  me,  left  by  going  to  fuch  places,  I 
might  fomewhat  contradict  by  example  the 
precepts  which  truth  had  directed  me  to 
deliver  in  publick;  to  wit,  a  life  of  felf-de- 
nial  and  temperance  in  eating  and  drinking, 
with  a  fteady  inward  attention  to  the  teach- 
ings of  the  fpirit  of  grace,  in  order  to  know 

an 


224    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

an  eftablifhment  of  heart  thereby,  as  being 
the  certain  duty  of  every  follower  of  Chri.fl 
Jefus  our  Lord. 

Thus  I  think  I  have  feen  that  there  is 
great  need  to  be  exceedingly  careful,  when 
the  Lord  is  pleafed  to  reach  unto  and  con- 
vict diforderly  walkers  by  inftrumental  means, 
that  we  do  not  leffen  the  weight  of  divine 
reproof,  by  being  familiar  with  fuch,  as  if 
all  was  well :  for  they  are  apt  to  be  fond  of 
the  inftrument  through  whom  they  have 
been  reached  j  and  if  by  their  fondling  they 
gain  the  efteem  of  fuch  a  friend,  it  feems 
to  heal  them  before  their  wounds  are  fearchcd 
to  the  bottom :  fo  that  I  rather  chofe  retire- 
ment, and  to  live  as  private  as  I  well  could. 
Now  I  alfo  faw  that  if  I  had  fought  many 
acquaintance,  and  thereby  beheld  the  con- 
duel:  and  behaviour  of  fome  in  their  families, 
my  way  would  not  have  been  fo  open  as  it 
now  was. 

In  many  meetings  the  love  and  power  of 
truth  was  felt  by  the  humble  dependent 
children,  whofe  eyes  were  fixed  on  their 
heavenly  Helper;  and  at  fome  of  the  laft  in 
London  I  had,  with  an  innocent  boldnefs, 
to  appeal  to  friends  to  bear  witnefs  of  the 
manner  in  which  I  had  fpent  my  time  in 
that  city.  That  I  had  not  fought  to  be  po- 
pular, nor  endeavoured  to  gain  the  praife  of 
any,  or  the  friendmip  of  thofe  who  were 
not  the  real  friends  of  truth ;  keeping  in  a 

good 


bF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    225 

good  degree  under  the  innocency  and  fim- 
plicity  thereof;  yet  with  a  near  affection  I 
felt  my  fpirit  united  to  the  children  of  the 
heavenly  family  amongft  them  -y  but  had 
never  fought  to  fteal  their  love  from  the 
great  Parent  to  whom  they  did  belong ;  my 
prayer  and  heart's  defire  having  been,  that 
their  abode  might  be  in  the  truth,  and  their 
affections  placed  on  God,  and  the  whole  de- 
light of  their  hearts  to  meditate  in  his  holy 
law.  That  if  through  me,  as  an  inftru- 
ment,  they  had  received  any  benefit,  the 
praife  belonged  to  the  Lord,  the  only  fu- 
preme  good :  and  if  in  future  they  did  but 
love,  fear,  and  ferve  him,  it  was  little  to 
me  whether  they  ever  remembered  that  I 
had  been  amongfl  them.  Neverthelefs,  a 
participation  of  the  love  of  God,  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  true  church,  has  taught  them 
to  know  the  communion  of  faints,  and  the 
deeply  engraven  unity  of  the  one  fpirit, 
which  makes  them  as  epiftles  written  in  one 
another's  hearts,  which  time  or  diflance  can 
never  erafe. 

Having  fpent  firft  and  lafl  in  London 
about  twenty-three  weeks,  on  the  ninth 
day  of  the  eighth  month,  and  lixth  of  the 
week,  after  a  folid  meeting  at  Gracechurch- 
ftreet,  I  felt  myfelf  at  liberty  to  fet  my  face 
homewards.  The  fame  mip  in  which  I 
came  over,  and  the  fame  captain,  Stephen 
Mefnard,  being  now  ready  to  go  for  Phila- 
Q^  delphia, 


2a6    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

delphia,  I  went  that  night  to  Gravefend, 
accompanied  by  about  twelve  friends;  the 
next  morning  we  went  on  board  the  mip, 
where  we  had  a  precious  uniting  time,  and 
then  returned  on  more  to  dine :  after  which 
my  friend  Samuel  Fothergill  and  myfelf, 
taking  leave  of  our  friends,  went  on  board 
again,  and  pafled  down  the  Thames  to  Mar- 
gate Bay,  near  the  Ifle  of  Thanet.  On 
firft  day,  the  eleventh,  we  went  to  the 
Downs,  by  Deal :  though  very  much  indif- 
pofed  in  body,  I  enjoyed  fuch  quietude  of 
mind,  that  I  was  borne  up,  and  preferved 
from  repining.  Samuel  Fothergill,  before 
mentioned,  came  over  with  me,  on  a  reli- 
gious vifit  to  friends  in  America;  and  dur- 
ing our  pafTage  great  nearnefs  was  between 
us.  We  held  meetings  conftantly  on  the 
firft  and  fifth  days  of  the  week,  and  landed 
near  Wilmington,  in  Newcaftle  county,  on 
Delaware,  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  the  ninth 
month,  (1754)  in  the  forenoon. 

My  brother,  William  Brown,  with  our 
friend  Jofhua  Dixon,  from  the  county  of 
Durham,  in  Great  Britain,  who  was  com- 
ing over  alfo  on  a  religious  vifit  to  friends 
in  thefe  colonies,  having  embarked  in  an- 
other mip,  which  failed  fome  time  before 
us,  arrived  likewife  the  fame  day,  and, 
quite  unexpected  to  each  other,  we  met  in 
this  town,  to  our  mutual  joy  and  fatisfac- 
tion.  From  whence,  after  dining,  they, 

with 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN,     227 

\vith  Samuel  Fothergill,  proceeded  up  to 
Philadelphia,  and  I  went  home  that  evening^ 
where  I  found  a  kind  reception. 

In  this  vifit  I  was  abfent  from  home  four 
years  and  twelve  days,  having  travelled  by 
land  about  nine  thoufand  one  hundred 
miles,  and  attended  about  one  thoufand 
meetings,  befides  thofe  in  London  and  Dub- 
lin, (in  which  cities  I  fpent  near  half  a 
year)  and  vifited  all  the  families  of  friends 
in  North  and  South  Holland. 


CHAP. 


228     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 


CHAP.     V. 

His  attending  the  quarterly-meetings  at  Phi- 
ladelphia and  Concord — The  yearly-meeting 
at  Philadelphia,  and  quarterly-meeting  at 
Shrew/bury,  in  New-Jerfey. — An  account 
of  an  exercife  attending  his  mind  relating 
to  war,  and  the  public k  commotions. — A 
conference  of  federal  friends  thereon,  with 
their  addrefs  to  the  ajjembly  of  Pennjyhania 
on  the  fubjecJ,  and  an  epiftle  to  friends  in 
that  province  in  the  year  1755. — His  at- 
tendance of  the  general  fpr ing- meeting  in 
Philadelphia  in  1756,  and  fome  account  of 
the  calamities  of  the  Indian  'war  in  Penn- 
Jyfoania. — An  account  of  the  yearly-meet- 
ing in  Philadelphia  the  fame  year. — A 
relation  of  a  <uifit  of  Peter  Gardner  to 
friends  in  Scotland. — A  brief  account  of  an 
Indian  treaty  at  Eajlon  in  1757. — Some 
fentences  exprej/'ed  in  two  of  his  public  k 
tejlimonies* 


O 


UR  yearly -meeting  for  worfhip  at 
Nottingham  was  held  in  the  week  af- 
ter I  landed,  and  I  was  greatly  rejoiced  to 
fee  many  of  my.  friends  and  acquaintance 
there. 

In  the  eleventh  month  following  I  went 
up  to  the  quarterly-meeting  in  Philadelphia, 
and  returned  to  ours  at  Concord,  where  alfo 
was  Samuel  Fothergill.  It  was  a  very  large 

meeting,' 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    229 

meeting,  in  which  he  was  divinely  opened 
in  fpeaking  to  the  ftate  of  friends  in  his 
publick  miniftry,  and  ferviceable  in  the  dif- 
cipline.  He  allb  attended  our  general  meet- 
ing in  the  fame  month  at  London-grove, 
which  was  alfo  large  and  profitable  ;  then 
went  towards  Lancafter,  on  his  way  to  the 
fou them  provinces. 

I  fpent  this  winter  moftly  at  and  near 
home,  at  times  attending  fome  neigh- 
bouring meetings,  until  towards  the  fpring, 
I  took  a  fmall  journey  to  feven  or  eight  others. 

During  my  late  travels  in  Europe,  be- 
holding the  declenfion  of  many  of  the  pro- 
ferTors  of  truth  from  the  ancient  fimplicity, 
in  habit  and  deportment,  I  fometimes  was 
ready  to  cry  out,  and  fay,  O  Pennfylvania ! 
may  thine  inhabitants  be  for  ever  Grangers 
to  the  vanities  of  the  world ;  and  the  pro- 
fefTors  of  truth  keep  their  garments  clean 
from  the  fpots  thereof,  pride,  and  fu- 
perfluity  of  every  kind !  But  now,  with 
forrow  of  heart,  I  thought  I  beheld  many 
of  the  youth  of  our  fociety  taking  their 
flight  as  into  the  air,  where  the  fnares  of 
the  prince  of  the  power  thereof  are  laid  to 
catch  them;  fome  of  whom  being  already 
fo  much  enfnared,  to  their  unfpeakable  hurt, 
I  knew  them  not,  otherwife  than  by  their 
natural  features,  and  a  family  refemblance, 
their  demeanor  and  habit  being  fo  exceed- 
ingly altered  in  a  little  more  than  four  years; 
et?  to  my  comfort,  I  faw  a  few,  who,  by 

walk- 


230     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

walking  in  the  light,  had  efcaped  the  wiles 
of  Satan,  and  were  growing  in  the  truth, 

In  the  fourth  month  (1755)  I  attended 
the  general  annual-meeting  at  Duck-creek, 
alfo  meetings  at  Little-creek  and  George's- 
creekj  the  lafl  of  which  was  more  open  than 
J  expected,  feveral  of  other  focieties  being 
there,  who  behaved  orderly.  After  which 
I  fpent  moil  of  the  fummer  at  home,  dili^. 
gently  attending  our  meetings  for  worfhip 
and  difcipline ;  and  had  to  obferve,  that  the 
general  part  of  the  members  of  our  meeting 
were  for  tome  time  remarkable  in  their  care 
to  come  together  near  the  hour  appointed, 
and  we  had  fome  precious  opportunities, 
many  of  which  were  held  in  lilence;  where- 
in I  often  faw  it  to  be  a  time  of  renewed 
vifitation  to  many,  which,  if  not  carefully 
improved,  would  not  be  continued  very  long, 
but  that  a  more  trying  feafon  would  over- 
take us,  (of  which  I  was  fometimes  led  to 
fjpeak,  as  truth  opened)  wherein  the  door 
of  outward  miniftry  would  be  more  clofed 
up,  which  would  prove  the  religion  of  the 
profeiTors  of  truth,  and  manifeft  what  they 
attended  meetings  for,  whether  to  wait  up- 
on God,  for  the  fpiritual  bread,  or  on  man, 
for  outward  miniftrv. 

In  the  ninth  month  I  attended  our  yearly- 
meeting  in  Philadelphia,  which  was  large 
and  folid,  wherein  many  weighty  matters 
coming  under  confideration,  were  concluded 
to  fatisfadion,  that  many  friends  parted  in 

«  feel- 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

a  feeling  fenfe  of  the  overfhadowing  of  the 
heavenly  wing,  with  reverent  thankfulnefs 
of  heart. 

In  the  tenth  month  I  attended  Shrewfbury 
quarterly-meeting,  in  Eafl-Jerfey,  at  which 
alfo  were  our  friends  John  Evans  and  Jofeph 
White;  it  was  large,  the  fittings  thereof 
being  favoured  with  a  degree  of  the  Divine 
prefence.  We  alfo  attended  the  monthly- 
meeting  there,  and  had  fome  fervice :  friends 
were  encouraged  to  deal  with  fuch  who 
were  diforderly  in  condudt,  there  having 
been  fome  flacknefs  among  them  in  that 
refpedt. 

As  the  found  of  war  and  publick  com- 
motions had  now  entered  the  borders  of 
thefe  heretofore  peaceful  provinces,  fome 
folid  thoughts  attended  my  mind  at  Shrewf- 
bury, refpedting  the  nature  of  giving  mo- 
ney for  the  king's  ufe,  knowing  the  fame  to 
be  intended  for  the  carrying  on  of  war. 
John  Evans  accompanying  me  homewards, 
we  took  three  meetings  in  our  way,  the  lafl 
being  at  Evefham;  at  which  place  I  told 
him,  that  I  felt  an  engagement  of  mind  to 
go  to  Philadelphia,  and  he  confented  to  go 
with  me.  When  we  came  to  the  city,  the 
affembly  of  Pennfylvania  being  fitting,  we 
underflood  that  a  committee  of  the  houfe 
was  appointed  to  prepare  a  bill,  for  granting 
a  fum  of  money  for  the  king's  ufe,  to  be 
ifTued  in  paper  bills  of  credit,  to  be  called 
in  and  funk  at  a  flated  time,  by  a  tax  on 


232     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

the  inhabitants;  on  which  account  feveral 
•friends  were  under  a  clofe  exercife  of  mind, 
fome  of  whom  being  providentially  toge- 
ther, and  conferring  on  the  fubjed:,  con- 
cluded it  was  expedient  to  requeft  a  con- 
ference with  thofe  members  of  the  Houfe 
who  were  of  our  religious  profeffion  :  on 
applying  to  the  fpeaker,  who  was  one  him- 
felf,  we  obtained  an  opportunity  of  con- 
verfing  with  them.  After  which,  we  be- 
lieved that  an  addrefs  to  the  aifembly  would 
be  neceflaryj  but  we  then  being  only  few 
in  number,  confulted  with  feveral  weighty 
friends  thereon.  At  length  upwards  of 
twenty  met  together,  who,  after  folidly 
confidering  the  matter  before  us,  were  all 
of  opinion,  that  an  addrefs  to  the  afTembly 
would  be  proper  and  necefTary :  whereupon 
one  was  drawn  up,  which  being  confidered, 
agreed  to,  and  figned  by  all  of  us,  we  went 
together  to  the  Houfe,  and  prefenting  it  to 
the  fpeaker,  it  was  read  while  we  were  pre- 
fent.  A  copy  whereof  here  follows,  viz. 

'  To  the  Reprefentatives  of  the  Freemen  of 
'  the  Province  of  Pennfylvania,  in  Ge- 
'  neral  ArTembly  met.' 

'  The  Addrefs  of  fome  of  the  People  called 
'  Quakers  in  the  faid  Province,  on  Behalf 
'  of  themfelves  and  others. 

THE  confideration  of  the  meafures 
'  which  have  been  lately  purfued, 
*  and  are  now  propofed,  having  been  weigh- 

*  tily 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     233 

*  tily  imprcffed  on    our  minds,  we  appre- 
'  hend  that  we  fhould  fall  fhort  of  our  duty 
'  to  you,  to  ourfelves,  and  to  our  brethren 
'  in  religious  fellowship,  if  we  did  not  in 

*  this  manner  inform  you,  that  although  we 

*  mall  at  all  times  heartily  and  freely  con- 

*  tribute,    according  to  our  circumftances, 
'  either    by   the  payment   of  taxes,    or   in 

*  fuch  other  manner  as  may  be  judged  ne- 
f  cefTary  towards  the  exigencies  of  govern- 
'  mentj  and  lincerely  defire  that  due  care 
'  may  be  taken,  and  proper  funds  provided, 
'  for  raifing  money  to  cultivate  our  friend- 
'  fhip  with  our  Indian  neighbours,  an4  to 
'  fupport  fuch  of  our  fellow  fubjects  who 
'  are  or  may  be   in  diftrefs,    and  for  fuch 
'  other  like   benevolent  purpofes ;    yet,    as 
f  the  raifing  fums  of  money,    and  putting 
'  them  into  the  hands  of  committees,  who 
'  may  apply  them  to  purpofes  inconfiftent 
f  with  the  peaceable  teflimony  we  profefs, 

*  and  have  borne  to  the  world,  appears  to  us, 

*  in   its   confequences,    to  be  deftru6tive  of 
'  our     religious    liberties  ;     we    apprehend 
'  many  among  us,  will  be  under  the  necef- 
'  fity  of  fuffering,    rather  than   confenting 
'  thereto,   by  the  payment  of  a  tax  for  fuch 

*  purpofes  :  and  thus  the  fundamental  part 

*  of  our  conftitution  may  be  efTentially  af- 
'•  feezed,  and  that  free  enjoyment  of  liberty 
'  of  confcience,  for  the  fake  of  which  our 

*  forefathers  left  their  native  country,  and 

<  fettled 


234     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  fettled  in  this,  then  a  wildernefs,  by  degrees 
'  be  violated. 

*  We  fincerely  affure  you,  we  have  no 
'  temporal  motives  for  thus  addreffing  you  : 
'  and  could  we  have  preferved  peace  in  our 
'  minds,  and  with  each  other,  we  fhould 

*  have  declined  it ;  being  unwilling  to  give 

*  you  unnecefTary  trouble,  and  deeply  fenfi- 
'  ble  of  your  difficulty  in  difcharging  the 
'  truft  committed  to  you  irreproachable  in 
'  thefc  perilous  times ;  which  hath  engaged 

*  our   fervent    defires,    that    the   immediate 
'  inftrudions  of  Supreme  wifdom  may  in- 
'  fluence  your  minds ;  and  that,  being  pre- 

*  ferved  in  a  fteady  attention  thereto,  you 
'  may  be  enabled  to  fecure  peace  and  tran- 

*  quillity  to  yourfelves,  and  thofe  you  re- 

*  prefent,   by  purfuing  meafures   confident 

*  with  our  peaceable  principles  :    and  then 
'  we  truft  we  may  continue  humbly  to  con- 
'  fide  in   the  protection   of  that  Almighty 

*  Power,   whofe  providence  has  heretofore 
'  been  as  walls  and  bulwarks  round  about 

*  us/ 

*  Philadelphia,  nth  month  7th,  1755.' 

A  bill  was,  however,  brought  in  by  the 
committee  of  the  alTembly,  and  a  law  enaded 
for  granting  a  large  fum  of  money  propofed 
to  be  funk,  or  called  in  by  a  general  tax. 

When  this  fervice  before  related  was  over, 
which  I  apprehended  it  my  duty  to  be  con- 

cerngj. 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    235 

cerned  ip,  I  returned  home  j  but  a  clofe  ex- 
ercife  remained  on  me,  as  well  as  on  the 
minds  of  divers  other  friends,  on  account 
of  the  law  now  paffed.  And  as  care  had 
been  taken  to  apprize  the  affembly  of  the 
folid  fentiments  of  friends  thereon,  that  we 
apprehended  our  charter  refpefting  liberty 
of  confcience  would  thereby  be  affected, 
therefore  a  large  committee  of  the  yearly- 
meeting,  which  had  been  appointed  to  vifit 
the  quarterly  and  monthly-meetings,  met  at 
Philadelphia,  in  the  twelfth  month,  had  a 
conference  thereon,  together  with  another 
committee,  nominated  to  correfpond  with 
the  meeting  for  fufferings  in  London ;  and, 
after  feveral  folid  opportunities  of  waiting 
on  the  Lord,  to  be  rightly  inftructed,  in 
which  being  favoured  with  a  renewed  fenfe 
of  the  ownings  of  truth,  many  friends 
thought  they  could  not  be  clear,  as  faith- 
ful watchmen,  without  communicating  to 
their  brethren,  their  mind  and  judgment 
concerning  the  payment  of  fuch  a  tax.  For 
which  purpofe  an  epiftle  was  prepared,  coji- 
lidered,  agreed  to,  and  rigned  by  twenty-one 
friends  :  copies  thereof  were  concluded  to 
be  communicated  to  the  monthly-meetings, 
being  as  follows,  vi£. 


An 


236     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  An  EPISTLE  of  tender  Love  and  Caution 
'  to  Friends  in  Pennfylvania. 

'  Dear  and  well-beloved  Friends, 

'  ~\  T  TE  falute  you  in  a  frem  and  renewed 
\ V  '  fenfe  of  our  Heavenly  Father's 
love,  which  hath  gracioufly  overihadowed 
us  in  feveral  weighty  and  folid  conferences 
we  have  had  together,  with  many  other 
friends,  upon  the  prefent  fituation  of  the 
affairs  of  the  fociety  in  this  province;  and 
in  that  love,  we  find  our  fpirits  engaged 
to  acquaint  you,  that  under  a  folid  exer- 
cife  of  mind  to  feek  for  council  and  di^ 
redtion,  from  the  High  Priefl  of  our  pro- 
feffion,  who  is  the  Prince  of  Peace;  we 
believe  he  hath  renewedly  favoured  us  with 
ftrong  and  lively  evidences,  that  in  his 
due  and  appointed  time,  the  day  which 
hath  dawned  in  thefe  latter  ages,  foretold 
by  the  prophet,  wherein  fwords  mould  be 
beaten  into  plough-mares,  and  fpears  into 
pruning-hooks,  mall  glorioufly  rife  higher 
and  higher ;  and  the  fpirit  of  the  gofpel, 
which  teaches  to  love  enemies,  prevail  to 
that  degree,  that  the  art  of  war  mall  be 
no  more  learned.  And  that  it  is  his  deter- 
mination to  exalt  this  blefled  day,  in  this 
our  age,  if  in  the  depth  of  humility  we 
receive  his  inftr unions  and  obey  his  voice. 
And  being  painfully  apprehenfive,  that 

*  the 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    237 

the  large  fum  granted  by  the  late  acT:  of 
alTembly  for  the  king's  ufe,  is  principally 
intended  for  purpofes  inconfiftent  with 
our  peaceable  teftimony;  we  therefore 
think,  as  we  cannot  be  concerned  in  wars 
and  fightings,  fo  neither  ought  we  to  con- 
tribute thereto,  by  paying  the  tax  directed 
by  the  faid  aft,  though  fuffering  be  the 
confequence  of  our  refufal,  which  we 
hope  to  be  enabled  to  bear  with  patience. 
And  though  fome  part  of  the  money  to 
be  raifed  by  the  faid  adt,  is  faid  to  be  for 
fuch  benevolent  purpofes,  as  fupporting 
our  friendfhip  with  our  Indian  neighbours, 
and  relieving  the  diftreiTes  of  our  fellow 
fubjedls,  who  have  fuffered  in  the  prefent 
calamities,  for  whom  our  hearts  are  deeply 
pained,  and  we  affectionately,  and  with 
bowels  of  tendernefs,  fympathize  with 
them  therein ;  and  we  could  moil  chear- 
fully  contribute  to  thofe  purpofes,  if  they 
were  not  fo  mixed,  that  we  cannot,  in  the 
manner  propofed,  mew  our  hearty  con- 
currence therewith,  without  at  the  fame 
time  aflenting  to,  or  allowing  ourfelves  in 
practices,  which  we  apprehend  contrary 
to  the  teftimony  which  the  Lord  hath 
given  us  to  bear,  for  his  name  and  truth's 
<  fake. 

'  And  having  the  health  and  profperity  of 
'  the  fociety  at  heart,  we  earneftly  exhort 
*  friends  to  wait  for  the  appearing  of  the 
'  true  light,  and  Hand  in  the  council  of 

'  God, 


THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

God,  that  we  may  know  him  to  be  the 
Rock  of  Salvation,  and  place  of  our 
refuge  for  ever.  And  beware  of  the  fpi* 
rit  of  the  world,  that  is  unftable,  and 
often  draws  into  dark  and  timorous  rea- 
fonings;  left  the  god  thereof  mould  be 
fuffered  to  blind  the  eye  of  the  mind;  and 
fuch,  not  knowing  the  fure  Foundation, 
the  Rock  of  Ages,  may  partake  of  the 
terrors  and  fears,  that  are  not  known  to 
the  inhabitants  of  that  place,  where  the 
fheep  and  lambs  of  Chrift  ever  had  a 
quiet  habitation;  which  a  remnant  have 
to  fay,  to  the  praife  of  his  name,  they  have 
been  blefTed  with  a  meafure  of,  in  this  day 
of  diftrefs. 

*  And  as  our  fidelity  to  the  prefent  go- 
vernment, and  our  willingly  paying  all 
taxes  for  purpofes  which  do  not  interfere 
with  our  confciences,  may  juftly  exempt 
us  from  the  imputation  of  difloyalty;  fo 
We  earneftly  defire  that  all,  who,  by  a  deep 
and  quiet  feeking  for  direction  from  the 
Holy  Spirit,  are  or  mall  be  convinced  that 
he  calls  us  as  a  people  to  this  teftimony, 
may  dwell  under  the  guidance  of  the  fame 
Divine  Spirit,  and  manifeft,  by  the  meek- 
nefs  and  humility  of  their  converfation, 
that  they  are  really  under  that  influence ; 
and  therein  may  know  true  fortitude  and 
patience  to  bear  that,  and  every  other 
teftimony  committed  to  them,  faithfully 
and  uniformly.  And  that  all  friends  may 

'  know 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    339 

*  know  their   fpirits  cloathed   and   covered 
c  with  true  charity,  the  bond  of  Chriftian 
'  fellowship,  wherein  we  again  tenderly  fa- 
'  lute   you,    and   remain   your  friends  and 

*  brethren.' 

'  Philadelphia,  izthmonth  i6th,  1755.' 

In  the  year  1756,  I  attended  our  general 
fpring-meeting  in  Philadelphia,  at  which 
we  had  the  company  of  our  dear  friends  Sa- 
muel Fothergill  and  Catharine  Payton,  from 
Great  Britain,  and  her  companion  Mary 
Peafley,  from  Ireland,  and  it  was  a  foleirm 
edifying  meeting. 

The  Indians  having  burned  feveral  houfes 
«n  the  frontiers  of  this  province,  alfo  at 
Gnadenhutten,  in  Northampton  county,  anc$ 
murdered  and  fcalped  fome  of  the  inhabit- 
ants, at  the  time  of  this  meeting  two  or 
three  of  the  dead  bodies  were  brought  to 
Philadelphia  in  a  waggon,  with  an  intent, 
as  was  fuppofed,  to  animate  the  people  to 
unite  in  preparations  of  war,  to  take  ven- 
geance on  the  Indians,  and  deftroy  them. 
They  were  carried  along  feveral  of  the  ftreets, 
many  people  following,  curfing  the  Indians, 
alfo  the  Quakers,  becaufe  they  would  not 
join  in  war  for  deftru&ion  of  the  Indians. 
The  fight  of  the  dead  bodies,  and  the  outcry 
of  the  people,  were  very  afflicting  and 
fhocking  to  me.  Standing  at  the  door  of  a 
friend's  houfe  as  they  paiTed  along,  my  mind 

was 


240     THE  LIFE  ArtD  TRAVELS 

was  humbled,  and  turned  much  inward^ 
when  I  was  made  fecretly  to  cry,  '  What 
'  will  become  of  Pennfylvania  ?'  for  it  felt 
to  me,  that  many  did  not  confider,  that  the 
fins  of  the  inhabitants,  pride,  profane  fwear- 
ing,  drunkennefs,  with  other  wickednefs, 
were  the  caufe,  that  the  Lord  had  fuffered 
this  calamity  and  fcourge  to  come  upon  them. 
The  weight  of  my  exercife  increafing  as  I 
walked  along  the  ftreet,  at  length  it  was  faid 
in  my  foul,  *  This  land  is  polluted  with 

*  blood,  and  in  the  day  of  inquifition   for 

*  blood,  it  will  not  only  be  required  at  the 
€  frontiers  and   borders,    but    even   in    this 
c  place,  where   thefe  bodies  are  now  feen.' 
I  faid  within  myfelf,  '  How  can  this  be; 
'  fince  this  has  been  a  land  of  peace,  and  as 

*  yet  not  much  concerned  in  war  ?'  but,  as 
it  were  in  a  moment,  mine  eyes  turned  to 
the  cafe  of  the  poor  enflaved  negroes.     And 
however  light  a  matter  they  who  have  been 
concerned   with  them   may  look  upon .  the 
purchafmg,  felling,  or  keeping  thofe  oppref- 
fed  people  in  flavery,  it  then  appeared  plain 
to  me,  that  fuch  were  partakers  in  iniquity, 
encouragers  of  war,  and  the  fhedding  of  in- 
nocent   blood  j    which    is   often    the    cafe, 
where    thofe   unhappy  people   are   or    have 
been  captivated  and  brought  away  for  flaves. 
The  fame  day  I  went  to  Pine-ftreet  meeting, 
under  an  exercifmg  mournful  ftate  of  mind, 
and  thought  I  could  be  willing  to  fit  among 
the  people  undifcovered. 

I  at- 


OP  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     241 

I  attended  our  quarterly-meeting  at  Con- 
cord in  the  fifth  month,  and  in  a  few  days 
after  went  to  the  yearly-meeting  at  Weft- 
River,  in  Maryland,  which  was  large,  and 
in  a  good  degree  fatisfaftory  j  then  going  to 
meetings  at  Herring-  Creek,  and  the  Clifts, 
returned  the  following  firft  day  to  Weft-Ri- 
ver, where  I  had  a  good  opportunity  to 
clear  myfelf  towards  friends  of  that  place; 
being  concerned  on  account  of  feveral  of  the 
ciders,  who  did  not  conduct  fo  exemplary 
as  they  ought  before  the  youth,  and  left 
them  relieved  in  my  mind.  From  thence  I 
returned  home,  taking  feveral  meetings  in 
my  way. 

In  the  ninth  month  I  was  at  our  yearly- 
meeting  for  Pennfylvania  and  New-Jerfey, 
held  this  year  at  Burlington,  which  was 
large  and  edifying  j  many  weighty  matters 
being  in  much  brotherly  love  refulted  to  fa- 
tisfadlion :  our  friend  Thomas  Gawthrop, 
from  Great  Britain,  was  there.  In  the  time 
thereof  our  worthy  friend  and  brother  John 
Evans,  of  Gwynnedd,  departing  this  life, 
Thomas  and  I  went  to  attend  the  burial;  on 
which  folemn  occasion  he  had  a  feafonable 
opportunity  to  remind  a  large  gathering  of 
people  of  their  latter  end,  and  I  thought  it 
was  a  folid  time. 

Being  one  of  the  committee  appointed  by 
the  yearly-meeting  to  vifit  the  quarterly  and 
monthly-meetings,  I  was  careful  in  attend- 
ing on  that  fervice,  as  way  was  opened,  in 
R  com- 


242     THE  LIFE  ^ND  TRAVELS 

company  with  other  friends;  as  likewiie  our 
meeting  for  fufFerings,  this  year  eftablifhed, 
which  is  held  monthly  in  Philadelphia,  fre- 
quently taking  meetings  in  my  way  going 
and  returning. 

In  the  fpring  of  the  year  1757,  I  alfo  at- 
tended our  general  meeting  for  minifters  and 
elders,  held  at  Philadelphia. 

Having  often  remembered  a  remarkable 
account  given  me  when  in  England  by  our 
ancient  worthy  friend  John  Richardfon, 
which,  as  it  made  fome  impreflion  on  my 
mind,  I  committed  to  writing,  and  now  re- 
viving, think  it  is  worthy  to  be  preferved, 
being  nearly  as  follows,  though  I  was  not 
particular  in  regard  to  the  time  of  the  oc- 
currence, viz. 

'  Peter  Gardner,  a  friend,  who  lived  in 
'  EfTex,  had  a  concern  to  vifit  friends  in 
'  Scotland;  but  being  low  in  circumftances, 

*  and   having  a  wife  and  feveral  children, 
'  was  under  difcouragement  about  it.     The 
'  Lord    in    mercy  condefcended  to  remove 
'  his  doubts,  by  letting  him  know  he  would 
'  be    with    him;    and    though   he  had    no 
'  horfe  to  ride,  and  was  but  a  weakly  man, 
'  yet  he  would  give  him  ftrength  to  perform 
'  the  journey,  and  fuftain  him  fo   that  he 
'mould  not  want  for  what  was  fufficient. 

*  And  having  faith,  he  laid  his  concern  be- 
'  fore  the  monthly-meeting  he  belonged  to, 
f  with  innocent  weight.     And  friends  con- 
'  curring   with   him  therein,    he  took   his 

*  journey 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    243 

*  journey  along  the  eaft  fide  of  the  nation, 
'  through  Norfolk,  Lincolnfhire,  and  York- 

*  mire ;  and  coming  to  a  week-day  meeting 
'  at    Bridlington,    where   John    Richardfon 
'  then  dwelt,  he  lodged  at  his  houfe.     In 
c  the  evening,  the  doors   being  fhut,  Peter 
'  afked  him  if  any  friend  lived  that  way  ;• 
'  (pointing  with  his  finger)  John  told  him 
f  he  pointed   towards   the   fea,    which  was 
'  not  far  from  thence.     He  faid  he  believed 
'  he  mufl  go  and  fee  fomebody  that  way  in 
'  the  morning.  John  afked  him  if  he  mould 
'  go  with  him;  he  faid  he  believed  it  would 
'  not  be  beft,  and  fo  went  to  bed. 

*  In  the  morning,  when  John's  wife  had 
'  prepared  breakfaft,  he  thought  he  would 
'  go  and  fee  if  the  friend  was  well,  but 
'  found  the  bed  empty,  and  that  he  was 

*  gone,    at  which  John    Richardfon   won- 
'  dered;  but  foon  after  Peter  came  in,  to 
'  whom  John  faid,  Thou  haft  taken  a  morn- 

*  ing  walk,  come  to  breakfaft.     And  before 

*  they  had   done  eating,   a  friend  from  the 

*  quay  or  harbour  (the  way  that  Peter  Gard- 

*  ner  pointed  to  over-night)  came  in,  and 
'  faid,  "  I  wonder  at  thee,  John,    to  fend 
"  this    man   with    fuch    a  mefTage  to   my 
"  houfe,"  and  related  as  follows,  viz.  that 
'  he  came  to  him  as  he  was  Handing  at  the 
<  Fifhmarket-place,  looking  on  the  fea,  to 
c  obferve  the  wind ;  that  he  alked  him  if  he 
'  would  walk  into  his  houfe ;  to  which  Pe- 

*  ter  anfwered  that  he  came  for  that  pur- 

R  2  '  pofe; 


244     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  pofe;  (this  was  in  the  twilight  of  the 
'  morning)  that  when  he  went  into  the 
'  houfe,  he  enquired  whether  his  wife  was 
'  well;  to  which  the  man  anfwered  that 
'  me  was  fick  in  bed,  and  invited  him  to 
'  go  in  and  fee  her :  he  faid  he  came  fo  to 
'  do.  Then  being  conducted  into  the  cham- 
'  ber  where  the  fick  woman  was,  he  fat 
'  down  by  her;  and  after  a  fhort  time,  told 

*  her,  the  will  and  refignation  of  her  mind 
'  was  accepted  inflead  of  the  deed,  and  that 
'  me  was  excufed  from  the  journey  which 
'  had  been  before  her,    and   mould  die  in 
'  peace  with  God  and  man.     Then  turning 
'  to  the  man  (her  hufband)  he  faid,   "  Thy 
"  wife  had  a  concern  to  vifit  the  churches 
"  in  another  country  beyond  the  fea,    but 
"  thou  wouldft  not  give  her  leave ;  fo  me 
"  mall  be  taken  from  thee :  and  behold  the 
"  Lord's  hand  is  againft  thee,  and  thou  malt 
"  be  blafted  in  whatfoever  thou  doeft,  and 
"  reduced  to  want  thy  bread."     So  the  man 
'  feemed  angry  with  John  Richardfon,  who 
'  faid   to   him,    "  Be  ftill,    and   weigh    the 
"  matter;    for  I  knew  not  of  the  friend's 
"  going  to  thy  houfe,  but  thought  he   was 
"  in   bed,  and  did   not   inform  him  about 
"  thee  nor  thy   wife:"  at  which  he  went 
'  away.     So  Peter  purfuecl  his  journey  to- 

*  wards  Scotland,  John  Richardfon  and  an- 
'  other  friend  going  with   him   to  Scarbo- 

*  rough  on  horfeback:   (for  he  would  not 

*  let  them  go  on  foot  with  him)  he  kept 

'  be- 


OF   JOHN  CHURCHMAN    245 

before  them  full  as  faft  as  they  chofe  to 
ride ;  and  when  they  had  gone  about  half 
way,  he  gained  ground  on  them,  and  John 
faid  he  was  filled  with  admiration,  for  he 
feemed  to  go  with  more  flight  and  eafe, 
he  thought,  than  ever  he  had  feen  any 
man  before.  And  riding  faft  to  overtake 
him,  he  thought  he  beheld  a  fmall  white 
cloud  as  it  were  encompaffing  his  head. 
When  he  overtook  him,  John  faid  to  him, 
Tho.u  doeft  travel  very  faft;  Peter  replied, 
My  Mafter  told  me  before  I  left  home, 
that  he  would  give  me  hind's  feet,  and  he 
hath  performed  his  promife  to  me. 
*  When  they  came  in  fight  of  Scarbo- 
rough, Peter  faid,  take  me  to  a  friend's 
houie,  if  there  is  any  there,-  John  replied, 
I  will  take  thee  to  the  place  where  I  lodge, 
and  if  thou  art  not  eafy  there,  I  will  go 
until  we  find  a  place,  if  it  may  be.  So 
John  Richardfon  took  him  to  his  lodg- 
ings ;  and  juft  as  they  entered  the  door, 
they  heard  Tome  one  go  up  ftairs,  and  anon 
the  woman  friend  of  the  houfe  coming 
down  with  a  neighbour  of  hers,  invited 
them  to  fit  down.  And  in  a  fhort  time 
Peter  faith,  Here  is.  light  and  darknefs, 
good  and  bad  in  this  houfe.  The  woman, 
after  me  had  got  them  fome  refreshment, 
came  and  aiked  John,  "  Who  haft  thou 
:  brought  here  ?"  "A  man  of  God,"  he 
replied.  Having  a  meeting  at  Scarborough 
the  next  day,  John  Richardfon  ftaid  with 
R  3  «  him, 


246     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  him,  and  faid  he  had  good  fervice.  He 
'  alfo  went  with  him  to  fever  1  friends 
'  houfes  there,  and  he  frequently  fpake  his 
'  fenfe  of  the  ftate  of  the  families.  But  as 
'  they  were  near  entering  one  houfe,  Peter 
'  flopped,  and  faid,  "  My  Mafter  is  not  there, 
"  I  will  not  go  in,"  fo  they  turned  away. 
'  Next  morning,  at  parting,  John  Ri- 

*  chardfon  afked  him  how  he  was  prepared 
'  for  money  j   telling  him  his  journey  was- 
'  long.     To  whom  Peter  anfwered,  I  have 
'  enough  ',  my  Mafter  told  me  I  mould  not 
'  want*:  and  now,  a  bit  of  bread,  and  fome 
'  water  from  a  brook,  refrefhes  me  as  much 
'  as  a  fet  meal  at  a  table.     But  John  infifted 
e  to  fee  how  much  money  he  had,  which 

*  was   but   two  half-crowns ;    upon  which 
'  John  took  a  handful  of  fmall  pieces  out 

*  of  his   pocket,   and  forced  Peter  to  take 
*'  them,  telling  him,  it  was  as  free  to  him 
'  as  his  own ;  for  fo  the  Lord  had  put  it 

*  into  his  heart.     Thus   they  parted,  John 

*  and  the  other  friend  returning  home. 

'  In  about  two  weeks  afterwards,  the 
'  man's  wife  (before  mentioned)  died,  as 
'  Peter  had  foretold.  At  that  time,  the 
'  fame  man  had  three  mips  at  fea  -y  his  fon 
'  was  mafter  of  one,  a  fecond  fon  was  on 

*  board  another,  and  in   their  voyages  they 

*  were  all  wrecked,  or  foundered,  and  their 

*  cargoes  chiefly  loft  j  his  two  fons,  and  fe- 

*  veral  of  the  hands,  being  drowned.    The 
'  man  foon  after  feroke,  and  could  not  pay 

*  his 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    247 

*  his  debts,  but  came  to  want  bread  before 

*  he  died,  though  he  had  been  in  good  cir- 

*  cumftances,  if  not  very  rich. 

'  John  Richardfon  further  faid,  that  af- 
f  ter  fome  time  he  heard  Peter  Gardner  was 

*  dead  in  Cumberland,  on  his  return  from 

*  Scotland,    and   being  attached  to  him  in 
'  near  affection,  he  went  to  enquire  how  he 
'  ended. 

'  John    Bowftead,    a   noted    friend    near 

*  Carliile,  gave  him  an  account  that  Peter 

*  had  been  through  Scotland,  and  came  to 
'  Carlifle,    and  the   fmall  pox  being  there, 
f  he  took  the  infection  very  fuddenly,  and 

*  lay  ill  with  it.     So  John  Bowftead  went 

*  juft  as  the  pock  was  coming  out  on  him, 

*  and  took   him   to  his  houfe;    they  never 
'  came  out  kindly,    but  fwelled  him   very 

*  much,    fo    that   he  wag  blind,    and    died 

*  about  the  feventh  day;  was  quite  fenfible 

*  to  the  laft,  and  knew  the  ftates  of  thofe 

*  who  came  to  fee  him.     He  had  enough  to 
'  pay  his  funeral  charges.' 

On  the  twelfth  of  the  feventh  month  this 
year  I  left  home,  in  order  to  attend  a  treaty 
to  be  held  between  the  Indians  and  our  go- 
vernment, at  Eafton,  in  Northampton  coun- 
ty, and  proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  where  I 
was  prefent  at  feveral  conferences  with 
friends ;  the  governor  having  declared  his 
diflike  to  their  attendance  at  that  treaty,  or 
their  diftinguiming  themfelves  by  giving  the 
Indians  any  prefents.  The  refult  was,  that 
R  4  as 


248     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

as  mutual  tokens  of  the  revival  of  ancient 
friendfhip  had  patted  between  them  and  the 
Indians,  with  a  view  to  promote  a  general 
peace,  it  would  be  of  bad  confequence  now 
to  neglect  or  decline  attending  on  this  im- 
portant occafion  -y  though  it  was  judged  ne- 
ceflary  for  friends  to  act  with  great  caution. 
We  therefore  fet  forward,  and,  taking  a 
meeting  at  Gwynnedd  in  the  way,  reached 
Eafton  on  fourth  day,  the  twenty-firft  of 
the  month,  the  governor  being  got  there 
about  two  hours  before  us;  but  did  not  en- 
ter on  bufinefs  that  day. 

Many  friends  from  Philadelphia,  and 
other  parts,  being  here  collected,  we  held 
a  meeting  on  fifth  day,  which  was  low  and 
dull,  things  appearing  very  dark.  In  the 
afternoon  the  Indians,  with  Teedyufcung, 
their  king,  or  chief  man,  went  to  the  go- 
vernor, and  fignified  the  fincerity  of  their 
intentions  to  promote  the  good  work  of 
peace;  when  he  delivered  feveral  firings 
and  belts  of  wampum,  in  order  to  certify 
the  full  power  and  authority  given  to  Tee- 
dyufcung for  that  purpofe ;  who  alfo  defired, 
that  as  things  had  heretofore  been  mifunder- 
flood  or  forgotten,  he  might  have  the  li- 
berty to  choofe  a  clerk,  to  take  the  minutes 
of  the  tranfadtions  at  this  treaty  on  behalf 
of  the  Indians,  which  was  put  off  by  the 
governor  at  that  time. 

Next  morning  Teedyufcung  renewed  the 
fame  requeft,  but  was  again  put  by:  then 

the 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     249 

the  Indians  began  to  be  very  uneafy,  from 
an  apprehenfion,  that  fome  people  from  the 
Jerfey  fide  of  the  river  were  likely  to  rife, 
with  a  defign  to  deftroy  them;  but  on  going 
to  converfe  with  them,  and  giving  them 
fome  pipes  and  tobacco,  which  they  were 
told  was  a  prefent  from  friends,  they  be- 
came more  quiet,  and  feemingly  pacified : 
this  day  and  the  next  there  was  little  bulinefs 
done. 

On  firft  day,  the  24th  of  the  month, 
friends  held  a  publick  meeting  in  the  Treaty- 
booth,  to  pretty  good  fatisfaclion,  tc  which 
a  great  number  of  people  came,  two  friends 
having  acceptable  fervice  therein.  In  the 
afternoon  friends  met  again,  but  there  feemed 
fo  great  a  cloud  over  the  meeting,  by  rea- 
fon  of  a  raw  carelefs  fpirit  prevailing  over 
the  minds  of  the  people,  as  though  there 
was  no  God,  notwithftanding  his  judgments 
are  fo  confpicuous,  efpecially  in  thefe  parts 
of  the  country,  that  life  did  not  arife  in 
this  meeting.  About  funfet  this  evening, 
we  heard  that  the  Mohawk  Indians  had  re- 
quefted  to  have  a  fire  made  to  dance  round, 
which  the  governor  allowed,  as  he  had  the 
evening  before  to  the  Delawares ;  with  both 
which  we  were  very  uneafy,  as  the  ten- 
dency thereof  was  to  make  the  Indians 
drunk;  but  no  endeavours  of  ours  could 
prevent  it. 

On  fecond  day  morning  the  governor  agreed 
to  allow  the  Indian  king  to  choofe  himfelf 

a  clerk. 


250     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

a  clerk,  which  he  did,  and  about  one  o'clock 
that  day  the  treaty  was  firft:  opened  in  pub- 
lick  j  when  Teedyufcung  was  defired  fully 
to  inform,  with  an  open  heart,  wherein  he 
apprehended  the  Indians  had  been  defrauded 
by  the  Proprietaries,  to  which  he  anfwered 
that  he  would  to-morrow ;  but  they  muft 
firft  clean  up  the  blood,   (as  he  exprefled  it) 
and  bury  the  dead  bodies.     Next  day  being 
again  met,  the  king  faid,   '  that,  according 
to  his  word,    he    had  now  met   fome  of 
the  feveral  nations  to  do  what  they  could 
for  fettling  peace;    but  now  in   the  firft 
place  he  had  feen  and  confidered  the  black 
cloud  that  hung  over  the  land,  the  blood 
and   bodies  of   the  people  who   had  fuf- 
fered,'  and  then  faid,  '  I  have  gathered  up 
the  ftained  leaves,  the  blood  and  dead  bo- 
dies, and  looked  round  about,  when   all 
feemed  terrible,  that  I  could  find  no  place 
to  hide  them ;  but  looking  up,  I  faw  the 
great  and  good  Spirit  above.     Let  us  hear- 
tily join  in  prayer  to  him,  that  he  may 
give  us  power  to  bury  all  thefe  things  out 
of  our  fight;  that  neither  the  evil  fpirit, 
nor  any  wicked  perfon,  may  ever  be  able 
to  raife  them ;  that  we  may  love  like  bre- 
thren, and  the  fun  may  mine  clear  upon 
us  -,  that  we,  our  wives,  our  young  men 
and    children,    may    rejoice    in    a   lairing 
peace  -,  that  we  may  eat  the  fruits  of  the 
earth,  and  they  may  do  us  good  -,  fo  that 
we  may  enjoy  peace  in  the  day  time,  and 

'  at 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     251 

'  at  night  lay  down  and  fleep  in  it.'     Gave 
a  belt  of  feventeen  rows  of  wampum. 

By  another   belt   he    told   the  governor, 
that  he  took  him  by  one  hand,  and  the  five 
nations. of  Indians  and  their  allies  took  him 
by  the  other;   '  therefore/  faid  he,  '  let  us 
all  ftand  as  one  man,  with  one  heart  and 
one  mind,  and  join  in  this  good  work  of 
peace.     When  we  intend  to  lift  or  remove 
a  great  weight,  we  muft  be  ftrong ;  if  all 
do  not  exert  themfelves,  we  can  never  do 
it;  but  if  all  heartily  join,  it  is  eafy  to 
remove  it.     Our  forefathers  did  not  pro- 
ceed right  when  they  met  together;  they 
looked  at  the  earth    and   things    prefent, 
which  will  foon  pafs  out  of  our  fight,  but 
did  not  look  forward  to  the  good  of  pof- 
terity :  let  us  fet  out  right,  and  do  better 
than  they  did,  that  a  peace  may  be  fettled 
which  may  laft  to  our  children/ 
He  next  acquainted    the  governor,    that 
one  of  the  meflengers  who  had  gone  on  a 
late  meflage  to  the  Indians  afar  off,  (mean- 
ing Mofes  Tatamy's  fon)   was   mot  on  his 
return  by  one  of  our  young  men,  and  lay 
in  a  dangerous   condition  :  and  by  a  firing 
of  wampum  infifted,  that  if  he   died,    the 
other  mould  be  tried  by  our  law,  and  fufFer 
death  alfo ;    and  that  fome  of  their  people 
mould  be  prefent,  to  be  able  to  inform  the 
other  nations  of  Indians  of  the  juftice  done. 
He  alfo  revived  the  ancient  agreement,  that 
if  any  of  them  (liquid  commit  the  Like  of- 
fence, 


252    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

fence,  the  criminal  fhould  be  delivered  up 
to  be  tried  according  to  our  laws,  and  fuffer 
death  in  the  fame  manner. 

On  fourth  day  there  was  no  publick  treaty 5 
things  feemed  in  much  confufion,  and  very 
dull,  but  friends  kept  quiet.  The  next 
day  I  found  myfelf  much  indifpofed,  and 
therefore  thought  it  belt  to  leave  Eafton 
before  the  treaty  ended ;  but  before  I  left  it 
friends  had  a  folemn  opportunity  together ; 
at  which  time  I  thought  I  faw,  that  the 
working  of  the  dark  revengeful  fpirit,  which 
oppofed  the  meafures  of  peace,  was  one 
reafon  why  friends  were  fo  baptized  into 
diftrefs  and  fuffering;  of  which  I  made  fome 
mention  to  friends,  and  that  if  they  kept 
quiet,  the  clouds,  as  to  them,  would  fome- 
what  break  away  :  Daniel  Stanton  had  a  fo- 
lemn time  in  fupplication.  After  this  meet- 
ing, taking  leave  of  friends,  I  rode  -to 
Richland,  and  though  my  diftemper  in- 
creafed,  and  I  was  very  ill,  I  purfued  my 
journey  the  next  day,  and  the  day  following 
reached  Philadelphia ;  where  I  was  carefully 
attended  through  a  time  of  tedious  and  clofe 
affliction.  My  dear  wife  coming  to  me  in, 
my  illnefs,  was  alfo  taken  with  the  fame 
diforder,  that  we  were  not  able  to  move 
homewards  until  the  twenty-third  of  the 
eighth  month,  but,  through  the  goodnefs  of 
kind  Providence  in  fupporting  us,  got  to 
our  own  habitation  the  next  day  in  the 
evening^  Tyhen,  after  about  a  \veek's  ilayx 

I  fet 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     253 

I  fet  out  again,  to  attend  the  meeting  for 
fufferings  in  Philadelphia,  and,  though  very 
weak,  got  there.  After  tarrying  part  of 
three  days  in  town,  I  went  forward,  in  order 
to  attend  the  monthly-meetings  in  Bucks 
county,  of  which  I  had  a  view  while  I  lay 
lick,  when  it  appeared  to  me,  the  way  to 
recover  my  ftrength  was  t9  be  faithful  to 
every  difcovery  of  duty ;  accordingly,  in 
company  with  feveral  other  friends  appointed 
by  the  yearly-meeting,  I  viiited  the  feveral 
monthly-meetings  in  that  county,  in  fome 
of  which  a  good  degree  of  the  Divine  pre- 
fence  being  felt,  was  caufe  of  thankfulnefs  ; 
though  at  one  of  them  we  had  fome  remark- 
able clofe  work,  both  in  the  time  of  wor- 
fliip  and  difcipline. 

Returning  to  Philadelphia,  I  perceived 
myfelf  much  recovered.  I  fpent  five  days 
there,  attending  meetings  as  they  came  in 
courfe,  and  then  went  to  Newtown  meeting, 
in  Cheiler  county,  which  was  fmall,  there 
being  an  evident  flacknefs  of  attending  week- 
day meetings.  From  thence  I  went  to 
Uwchlan,  to  the  marriage  of  William  Trim- 
ble and  Phebe  Thomas,  which  was  a  good 
meeting;  where  I  met  my  dear  wife,  on 
her  way  to  the  yearly-meeting  at  Philadel- 
phia :  and.  after  attending  a  meeting  at 
Merion,  we  went  into  the  city  the  next 
evening.  Our  friends  Thomas  Gawthrop, 
Samuel  Spavold,  William  Reckitt,  and  others, 
from  Great  Britain;  alfo  Thomas  Nicholfon, 

from 


254    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

from  North  Carolina,  were  at  this  yearly- 
meeting,  which  was  large  and  fatisfaftory, 
holding  from  the  feventeenth  to  the  twenty- 
third  of  the  ninth  month,  1757. 

Here  I  may  note,  that  before  I  left  home 
to  attend  the  late  Indian  treaty  at  Eafton, 
in  my  deep  I  thought  I  was  riding  eaftward, 
in  the  twilight,  and  faw  a  light  before  me 
towards  fun-rifing,  which  did  not  appear  to 
be  a  common  light,  but  foon  obferved  the 
appearance  of    fomething  therein,    whereat 
the  beaft   that  I  rode  was  much  affrighted, 
and  would  have  ran  from  it,  which  I  knew 
would  be  in  vain ;  for  I  took  it  to    be  an 
angel,  whofe  motion  was  as  fwift  as  thought, 
fo    rather   flopped,  and  reined  in  my  beaft 
towards  it.      It   was   encompafTed    with    a 
brightnefs  like  a  rainbow,  with  a  large  loofe 
garment   of  the  fame  colour  down  to  the 
feet.     It  rather  feemed  to  move  even  along 
than  to  walk,    and  then  flood  ftill   in  the 
midft  of  many  curious  flacks   of  corn.     It 
was  of  a  human  form,  about  feven  feet  high.* 
(as   I   thought)   and,  fmiling  on  me,  afked 
where  I  was  going ;  I  faid  Towards  yonder 
building,  which  1  thought  was  an  elegant 
one,  directly  before  me :    it  feemed  to  ap- 
prove my  way,  and  vanifhed  upwards.  Then 
I  awakened,  and  had  particularly  to  remem- 
ber the  complexion  of  this  angelick  appari- 
tion, which  was    not  much   different  from 
one  of  the  Indians,  clean  warned  from  his 
greafe.    Remembering  my  dream  very  ffefh, 

when 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     255 

when  I  had  feen  the  Indians  at  the  treaty, 
and  had  heard  fome  matters  remarkably 
fpoken  by  fome  particulars  of  them,  I  was 
made  to  believe  it  was  not  unreafonable  to 
conclude,  that  the  Lord  was  in  them  by 
his  good  Spirit,  and  that  all  colours  were 
equal  to  him,  who  gave  life  and  being  to 
all  mankind.  We  ihould  therefore  be  care- 
ful to  examine  deeper  than  the  outward  ap- 
pearance, with  a  tender  regard  to  itation  and 
education,  if  we  delire  to  be  preferved  from, 
error  in  judgment. 


The  following  fentences  being  delivered 
in  two  of  his  publick  teftimonies,  were 
foon  after  committed  to  writing  by  a  friend 
who  was  prefent,  and  appearing  worthy  to 
be  further  preferved,  are  now  communi- 
cated, viz. 

In  a  firft  day  meeting  at  Eaft  Nottingham, 
the  nineteenth  of  the  twelfth  month,  1756, 
he  exprelfed  nearly  as  follows  : 

'  I  felt  my  mind  in  this  meeting  remark- 

*  ably  drawn  from  outward  obfervation,  and 

*  was   commanded   to  center    in   deep    and 

*  awful  filence,    wherein  there  was   fuch  a 
'  flowing  of  good  will   to  mankind,    as  is 
'  fcarcely  to  be  uttered  by  tongue;  but  thus 
'  centering  with  diligent  attention,  I  thought 

<  I  felt 


256     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  I  felt  a  ftrong  power  of  darknefs  and  flu- 
'  pid  ignorance,  feemingly  combined  to 
'  make  war  againft  this  iolemn  attention  of 
'  mind;  yet,  after  patiently  waiting  fome 
'  time,  to  my  comfort,  I  felt  a  fecret  vic- 
'  tory,  and  the  darknefs  vanifhed :  then  a 
'  voice  was  uttered  in  me,  attended  (I 
'  thought)  with  Divine  authority,  thus :  "I 
"  will  bow  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth, 
"  and  particularly  of  this  land,  and  I  will 
"  make  them  fear  and  reverence  me,  either 
"  in  mercy  or  in  judgment."  '  Hereupon  a 
'  profped:  immediately  opened  to  my  view, 
'  of  a  day  of  calamity  and  fore  diftrefs, 

*  which  was  approaching,  and  in  which  the 
'  carelefs  and  ftupid  profeiTors,  who  are  eafy, 

*  and    not  concerned    to    properly  wormip 
'  and  adore  the  Almighty,  and  have  not  la- 

*  boured  to  witnefs  their  foundation  to  be 
'  laid  on  him  the  immoveable  rock,  will  be 
'  greatly  furprifed  with  fearfulnefs  :  and  on 
'  the  behalf  of  fuch,  a  piercing  cry  and  la- 
'  mentation  ran  through  me,  thus:   "  Alas, 
*'  for  the  day !  Alas,  for  the   day !  Woe  is 
"  me!"   (feveral  times  repeated)  and  a  voice, 
'  which  feemed  to  be  connected  with   the 
'  foregoing,  faid  further;   "  yet  once  more, 
"  faith  the  Lord,  I  make  not  the  earth  only, 
"  but  alfo  heaven  :  not  only  the  fituation  of 
'*  thofe  that  know  not  any  place  of  fafety 
"  or   refuge;    that  which  is   outward    and 
"  earthly;    but   alfo   thofe    who    affume   a 
<*  higher   place,    and  in  their  fpecious  ap- 

"  pearances 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     257 

Cf  pearances  amongft  men,  do  value  them- 
"  felves  on  their  aiTumed  goodnefs,  and 
"  would  fain  be  accounted  of  the  higheft 
"  rank,  and  even  place  themfelves  amongft 
"  the  faints,  and  are  by  fome  accounted  as 
"  flars  in  the  firmament;  yet  in  the  day  of 
"  my  power,  wherein  I  will  {hake  the  hea- 
"  vens  and  the  earth,  thofe  flars  mall  fall 
"  to  the  ground." 

'  In  the  opening,  fomething  within  me 
'  was  ready  to  fay,  "  Amen,  fo  be  it;  O 
tf  Lord  Almighty,  cut  fhort  thy  work  in  the 
"  earth,  in  order  that  thou  mayefl  put  an 
"  end  to  fin,  and  finifh  tranfgreffion  j  that 
"  thy  fear,  and  the  knowledge  of  thee,  may 
"  cover  the  earth,  as  the  waters  cover  the 
"  fea."  '  Wherefore,  my  friends,  the  fer- 
'  vent  defire  of  my  foul  is,  that  all  prefent 
'  may  with  diligence  labour  to  have  your 

*  minds  truly  centered  and  humbled  before 
'  God,  to  know  a  being  fixed  on  that  foun- 
'  dation  which  only  flandeth  fure ;  that  in 

*  a  time  of  outward  diftrefs,  which,    per- 

*  haps,  may  come  in  your  day,  ye  may  find 
'  a  place  of  fafety  and  refuge.'     All  which, 
with  more  to  the  like  effect,  was  delivered 
in  great  humility  and  brokennefs. 

At  a  week-day  meeting  at  the  fame  place, 
the  feventeenth  of  the  fecond  month,  1757, 
feveral  perfons  by  unfeafonable  coming  in 
had  interrupted  the  quiet  of  the  meeting, 
he  gave  a  fuitable  caution  in  that  refpe<5, 
S  in 


258     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

in  gentle,  winning  terms,  reminding  thofe 
met  of  the  awfulnefs  and  folemnity  which 
fhould  attend  us  when  we  approach  the 
prefence  of  him  who  is  moft  holy ;  and  in 
what  reverence,  fear  and  care,  we  ought  to 
come  together,  not  forgetting  the  hour  ap- 
pointed; and  then  expreffed  nearly  as  fol- 
lows : 

'  A  certain  fentence  has  been  prefented  to 
'  the  view  of  my  mind,  which  feemcd  to 
'  contain  a  gentle  engaging  caution,  and 

*  matter  of  inflrucliion  to  me,  attended  with 

*  fweetnefs;  which  was,  "  Work  while  it 
*'.is  day."  '  Friends,  this  is  our  day,  where- 
'  in  we  ought  to  be  diligent  and  induftrious; 

*  in  the  light   of  the  day  we  may  fee  and 

*  underftand  how  to  work,  and  what  to  do, 
'  that  at  the  conclufion  we  may  obtain  from 
'  the  Mafter  of  the  day,  who  dwelleth  in 
'  light,  the  anfwer  of  "Well  done;"  for  the 

*  night  will  come,    wherein    no    man   can 
'  work.    We  are  now  favoured  with  liberty, 
'  in  this  our  day,  to  affemble  together  for 
'  worlhip  unmolefled;    and  my  hearty  de- 
'  lire  is,  that  we  may  properly  improve  this 

*  mercy;  for  the  time  to   fome  of  us  may 
'  come,  before  our  day  in  this  life  is  clofed, 
'  wherein  this  privilege  may  in  fome  mea- 
'  fure  be  taken  from  us.     Something  in  me 

*  would  be  ready  to  fay,   The  Lord  forbid 

*  that  mould  be   the  cafe;  but,  by  reafon 
'  of  the  great  declenfion  which  has  over- 
'  ipread  the  church,  I  hardly  dare  to  expect 

'  any 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     259 

any  other  i  Oh  may  we  therefore  be  care- 
ful to  prize  the  mercy  of  God,  and  en- 
endeavour  to  gain  an  inheritance  in  the 
light,  that  when  night  overtakes,  and 
darknefs,  as  to  the  outward,  may  hang  over 
us,  we  may  be  favoured  to  withdraw  into 
the  fure  hiding-place,  and  know  a  quiet 
habitation  !' 


CHAP.     VI. 

Sundry  vifts  to  meetings  in  Pennjylvania  and 
New-Jerfey — Alfo  in  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia.— His  apprehenjions  of  duty  to  proceed 
on  a  •vtfit  to  Earbadoes^  and  refignation 
thereto,  but  at  length  became  moft  eafy  to 
decline  it. — The  fettlement  of  Uwchlan 
monthly -meeting,  with  his  epijile  to  friends 
there. — Alfo  fome  'weighty  exprej/ions  ut- 
tered in  the  time  of  hisjicknefs  in  the  year 
1761. 

HAVING  fome  drawings  in  my  mind 
to  vilit  the  meetings  of  friends  in 
the  counties  of  Philadelphia  and  Bucks  $ 
being  alfo  under  an  appointment  of  the 
yearly-meeting  to  join  with  fome  others  in 
a  vifit  to  the  monthly-meetings;  in  order  to 
proceed  on  my  fervice,  I  acquainted  our 
monthly  -  meeting  at  Nottingham,  with 
whofe  concurrence  I  left  home  on  the  third 
of  the  twelfth  month,  1757,  accompanied 
by  a  near  relation,  and  attended  Darby  meet- 
S  2  ing 


26o    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

ing  on  firft  day;  wherein,  though  life  and 
the  power  of  truth  feemed  to  be  low,  I 
thought  the  humble  waiters  were  encou- 
raged. We  went  to  the  evening  meeting 
in  Philadelphia ;  next  morning  attended  the 
meeting  of  minifters  and  elders,  and  the 
day  following  a  meeting  at  the  Bank,  alfo  a 
meeting  for  fufferings,  and  on  fourth  day 
returned  to  Darby,  to  their  monthly-meet- 
ing ;  where  we  found  friends  under  a  ftrait 
about  difowning  one  among  them  who  de- 
nied the  divinity  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jefus  Chrift,  on  whom  they  had  beftowed 
much  labour  to  convince  him  of  his  error: 
the  meeting  ended  well,  the  company  of 
of  friends  who  attended  it  being  acceptable 
and  of  fervice.  We  were  next  day  at  Ha- 
verford  monthly-meeting,  held  at  Radnor, 
where  the  lively  exerciie  of  the  difcipline 
appeared  to  be  very  low,  yet  I  was  glad  I 
was  there.  During  the  time  of  the  bufi- 
nefs,  feeling  a  concern  on  my  mind  to  ap-* 
point  a  meeting  at  Haverford,  to  be  held 
the  next  day,  I  propofed  it  for  concurrence, 
which  being  readily  agreed  to,  we  attended 
there  accordingly,  and  had  a  large  meeting, 
much  to  fatisfadtion ;  having  great  peace  in 
obferving  the  motion  of  truth  refpeding  this 
appointment.  On  the  following  day,  ac- 
companied by  my  friend  Hugh  Evans,  I 
vilited  fome  ancient  friends,  who,  by  reafon 
of  old  age  and  indifpofition,  could  not  get 
out  to  meetings;  wherein  I  was  favoured 

with 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     261 

with  that  peace  which  I  have  often  expe- 
rienced to   attend  the   acceptable   work  of 
viiiting  the  affli&ed.     On  firft  day,  after  a 
iatisfactory  meeting  at  JVTerion,    I  went  to 
the   evening    meeting   in    Philadelphia,    in 
which    truth    favoured    with    a    degree    of 
opennefs,  to  the  inilrudtion  and  comfort  of 
many.     On  third  day  afternoon,  accompa- 
nied by  my  brother,  William  Brown,  went 
forward  to  Richland  monthly-meeting,  held 
on  the  fifth  day,  where  we  had  fome  clofe 
hard  work ;  which  generally  happens,  when 
a  lifelefs  formal  fpirit  hath  the  prevalence 
in  managing  the  affairs  of  the  church,  for 
want  of  feeling  after  and  waiting  for  the 
true  authority,  even  the  power  of  God ;  yet 
we  were  glad  that  we  were  there.     From 
thence  my  brother  returned  home,  the  reft 
of  us    going   to   an    appointed    meeting   at 
Plumilead,  which,  though  the  weather  was 
feverely  cold,  was  large  and  comfortable,  in 
the  fenfe  whereof  we  were  thankful  to  the 
Author  of  all  good.     The  meeting  next  day 
at  Buckingham  was  fmall,  but  fatisfaclory. 
J  have  often  -obferved,  that  the  feverity  of 
the  weather  is    not  a  fufficknt  excufe   fpr 
the  Lord's  panting  children  to  neglect  pub- 
lick  worfhip,  which  is  a  duty  incumbent  on 
us,    and   due    to    his    glorious    name.      At 
Wrightftown  meeting  the  next  day  the  Maf- 
ter  of  our  aflemblies  was  pleafed  to  appear 
in  an  eminent   manner,  to   the   comfort  of 
{he  poor,  jnftrudion  of  the  enquirers,  re- 
S  3  buke 


262     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

buke  of  the  backfliders,  and  edification  of 
many :  for  which  the  facrifice  of  thankf-, 
giving  and  praife  was  offered  to  him,  who 
alone  is  worthy  for  ever.  After  this  meet- 
ing, I  felt  the  value  of  that  peace  which 
by  the  humble  is  better  felt  than  exprefTed, 
We  had  next  a  good  meeting  at  Makefield, 
at  which  were  many  feeking  tender  young 
people;  then  attended  the  Falls  preparative 
meeting,  which  was  fatisfactory,  a  comfort- 
able degree  of  unity  fubfifting  among 
friends.  Our  next  meeting  was  at  Briftol, 
in  which,  after  a  dark  diftreffing  time  in  fi- 
lence,  what  I  had  to  communicate  was  in- 
troduced by  a  queftion,  thus :  *  Are  you 
'  found  in  faith  and  practice  ?'  And  I  was 
led  to  fet  forth,  '  that  to  profefs  and  acknow- 
ledge even  facred  truths,  without  a  life  of 
felf-denial,  with  an  anfwerable  honeft  con-» 
duel:,  was  no  way  fufficient ;  that  being  a 
dead  faith,  which  produceth  not  good 
works  in  him  who  faith  he  believeth; 
mewing  what  ftumbling-blocks  the  no^ 
minal  profefibrs  are,  who  by  their  exam- 
ple plainly  manifeft,  that  they  are  not 
pofleflbrs  of  what  they  profefs  to  have, 
and  are  the  greateft  enemies  the  truth 
hath;  which  I  was  doubtful  was  the  cafe 
with  foine  among  them/  I  had  peace  in 
this  plain  dealing.  Our  next  was  a  laborious 
meeting  at  Byberry,  yet  yielded  a  degree  of 
the  fame  peace.  A  friend  afterwards  told 
me  that  the  ftate  of  the  meeting  was  clearly 

fpoken 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     263 

fpoken  to;  which  I  relate  not  for  any 
praife  to  man,  but  that  it  was  an  additional 
confirmation  of  the  Lord's  fuffieiency  to  his 
own  work ;  and  when  we  are  weak,  foolifh, 
or  contemptible  in  our  own  efleem,  his 
Strength  appears,  and  his  wifdom  infpires 
with  true  knowledge,  whereby  he  magnifi- 
eth  himfelf.  We  went  home  with  our  friend 
James  Thornton,  and  next  day  to  Horfham, 
where  was  a  large  and  good  meeting ;  aftep 
which  we  had  a  comfortable  time  in  the 
family  of  John  Cadwalader.  Next  day  we 
attended  the  monthly-meeting  at  Abington, 
in  company  with  Samuel  Eaftburn  and  Jo- 
feph  White.  We  found  things  low  here, 
becaufe  of  a  want  of  that  ftrength  in  which 
ftands  the  authority  of  the  church.  It  is 
only  the  pure  wifdom  from  above  that  pre- 
ferves  friends  in  peace,  meeknefs,  gentlenefs, 
and  unanimity  in  the  diftribution  of  right 
juiKce  and  judgment  in  the  church  of 
Chrift. 

We  were  next  day  at  Gwynedd  monthly- 
meeting,  which  was  a  precious  time,  through 
the  power  of  that  facred  name,  which  is  as 
ointment  poured  forth ;  the  favour  whereof 
continued  through  both  wormip  and  difci- 
pline,  in  which  the  faithful  were  mutually 
comforted.  We  from  thence  went  to  Ellen 
Evans's,  and  had  an  evening  meeting,  fome 
of  the  neighbours  coming  in;  feveral  friends 
were  much  enlarged  in  counfel,  and  the  op- 
S  4  portunity 


264    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

portunity  ended  in  folemn  prayer  and  thankf- 
giving. 

We  went  from  thence  to  Exeter  monthly- 
meeting,  which  ended  to  fatisfaction  in  the 
main ;  then  home  with  our  friend  Ellis 
Hugh,  where  Jofeph  White  and  Samuel 
Eaftburn  left  us,  to  return  homewards.  My 
companion  and  I  proceeded  to  Reading,  had 
apublick  meeting  in  the  Court-houfe,  which 
I  thought  was  pretty  well,  confidering  the 
company,  many  loofe  people  attending;  but 
truth  feemed  to  come  into  dominion,  and 
quieted  them,  that  the  meeting  ended  in  a 
degree  of  awful  fweetnefs. 

On  firft  day,  being  alfo  the  firft  of  the  new 
year,  1758,  we  were  at  Maiden  Creek  meet- 
ing, which,  although  a  low  time,  afforded 
peace  and  comfort,  from  a  profpect  that  there 
were,  among  the  youth  in  particular,  fome 
true  branches  of  the  vine  of  life,  who  there- 
fore could  not  be  fatisiied  without  the  living 
fap  from  the  holy  root,  and  in  the  Lord's 
time  would  be  favoured  therewith,  if  there 
was  a  patient  waiting  for  that  fpringing  fea- 
fon.  We  returned  to  Reading  that  evening, 
to  a  meeting  held  by  appointment  at  a 
friend's  houfe  for  the  members  of  our  fo- 
ciety  in  that  town,  in  the  attendance  of 
which  I  found  peace.  Crofting  the  river 
Schuylkill,  we  were  next  day  at  Robinfon  or 
the  Foreft  meeting ;  after  which  I  was  much 
humbled  in  a  fenfe  of  the  great  condefcen- 
iion  and  mercy  of  the  Lord  our  God,  who 

was 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    265 

was  pleafed  to  renew  the  reaches  of  his 
power  to  feveral,  who  had  many  years  made 
profeffion  of  the  pure  truth,  and  yet  dwelt 
in  that  which  is  impure,  as  drinking  to 
excels,  and  other  evils,  fome  of  whom  I 
knew,  but  did  not  know  that  they  were 
there  till  the  meeting  was  over :  the  weak 
were  ftrengthened,  and  the  humble  feekers 
encouraged,  and  great  love  flowed  towards 
the  youth.  Returning  again  over  Schuyl- 
kill,  we  went  to  that  called  Evans's  meet- 
ing, which  was  very  open  for  doctrine,  fe- 
veral not  of  our  fociety  being  prefent.  The 
firfl  fentences  that  appeared  in  my  view 
were,  "  Many  are  called,  but  few  are  cho- 
'*  fen,"  attended  with  fuch  weaknefs,  and 
fuch  a  fenfe  of  my  own  foolifhnefs,  and  in- 
ability for  handling  that  fubject,  that  I  was 
afraid,  becaufe  I  had  a  fecret  apprehenfion 
that  fome  would  incline  to  make  an  advan- 
tage of  thofe  words,  "  but  few  are  chofen," 
in  applying  them  to  ftrengthen  themfelves 
in  the  corrupt  manner  in  which  they  hold 
election;  but  it  appeared  that  the  words, 
"  all  have  not  obeyed,"  was  the  reafon  why 
fo  few  are  chofen.  My  mouth  was  opened 
in  fear,  even  to  trembling,  yet  with  a  fecret 
hope  and  confidence  that  the  Lord  would 
be  mouth  and  wifdom,  with  defires  that  he 
would  bind  my  attention  to  his  own  imme- 
diate instruction,  that  the  language  of  his 
Spirit  might  be  only  uttered  by  me;  and 
he  was  pleafed  to  magnify  his  own  truth  in 

the 


266     THE  LIFE   AND  TRAVELS 

the  opening  of  thefe  paflages.  I  give  this 
hint,  that  they  who  are  concerned  in  the 
miniftry  may  humbly  trufl  in  God,  and  not; 
lean  to  their  fears,  knowledge,  experience, 
or  wifdom,  in  opening  the  myfteries  of  the 
gofpel,  but  confide  in  the  key  of  David, 
which  when  it  opens  none  can  fhut.  Next 
day  we  were  at  Providence  or  Perkiomin 
meeting,  which  though  poor,  and  truth  low, 
peace  was  afterwards  meafurably  enjoyed, 
from  an  evidence  of  having  been  honeft  ac- 
cording to  the  ability  given ;  and  the  day 
following,  at  Plymouth,  faithful  friends 
were  comforted  in  the  gracious  condefcen- 
fion  of  our  holy  Head,  who  was  pleafed  to 
favour  with  the  aboundings  of  the  life  and 
love  of  truth.  We  then  returned  to  Phila- 
delphia, with  thankful  hearts  for  the  evi- 
dence of  peace. 

My  companion  returning  home,  I  went, 
in  company  with  my  brother,  on  firft  day 
morning  to  Frankfort,  having  felt  an  en- 
gagement for  a  confiderable  time  to  vifit  that 
meeting.  A  fenfe  of  the  declenfion  of 
friends  in  this  place,  both  in  refpect  ta 
numbers  and  the  life  of  religion,  was  caufe 
of  heavinefs  of  heart;  but  having  performed 
my  vifit  in  faithfulnefs,  according  to  ability, 
returned  with  a  degree  of  peace  to  the  even- 
ing meeting  in  the  city,  which  was  com^ 
fortable,  flaying  there  until  the  fifth  day 
of  the  week  ',  in  which  time  I  attended  the 
ufual  meetings,  one  with  the  negroes,  much 

to 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    267 

to  fatisfadion,  and  alfo  the  meeting  for  fuf- 
ferings.  I  got  fafe  home  on  feventh  day, 
the  fourteenth  of  the  firft  month,  having 
travelled  in  this  journey  about  four  hundred 
and  ten  miles. 

On    the    twenty- fecond    of    the    fecond 
month  I  again  left  home,  in  order  to  attend 
the    quarterly-meeting   at    Burlington,    and 
fome  particular  meetings  in  New-Jerfey,  as 
well  on  account  of  the  yearly-meeting's  ap- 
pointment, as  my  own   fenfe  of  duty,    of 
which  I  had  the  approbation  of  our  month- 
ly-meeting, fignified   by  a  minute.     In  my 
way  I  attended  the  monthly-meeting  in  Phi- 
ladelphia, with  fome  degree  of  fatisfaction. 
Then  taking  Chefter  or  Adam's  meeting  in 
New-Jerfey,  reached  Burlington  on  firft  day 
evening  j  the  next  day  being  the  quarterly- 
meeting,    at  which,  with  William  Home, 
and  my  brother,    William   Brown,    I   had 
fome    fervice.      After    ftaying   the   youth's 
meeting,    they  left   me,    and   I  went  to  a 
meeting  on  fourth    day  at  a  fchool-houfe, 
where  Several  friends  met,  alfo  divers  others, 
who,   perhaps,  had  not  been  at  any  place 
of  worfhip  for  fome  time,    and   were   eafy 
about    religion ;     to    whom  it    became  my 
concern  to  mew  how  difagreeable  and  loath- 
fome  that  ftate  was,  from  Rev.  iii.   15.   "I 
"  know  thy  works,    that   thou  art  neither 
"  cold  nor  hot :  fo,  then,  becaufe  thou  art 
"  lukewarm,    and  neither  cold  nor  hot,  I 
*<  will  fpew  thee  out  of  my  mouth."     It 

opened 


268     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

opened  to  me,  that  a  lukewarm  condition, 
to  hold  a  profeffion  of  religion,  fo  as  to 
take  it  ill  not  to  be  thought  a  Chriftian,  but 
at  the,  fame  time  to  remain  eafy,  and  not 
in  earnefl  to  experience  the  life,  virtue, 
and  power  of  Chriftianity ;  not  fo  cold  as 
to  forget  the  name,  nor  fo  hot  or  zealous  as 
to  witnefs  the  life  of  true  religion,  was 
very  difpleafing  to  the  Almighty.  A  good 
degree  of  power  attended  the  opening,  and 
in  treating  on  that  paffage,  with  much  love 
to  fuch  lukewarm  profeffors,  feveral  were 
reached  and  tendered  beyond  expectation; 
but  no  praife  to  man,  though  he  may  will 
or  run,  hut  to  God,  who  meweth  mercy. 

At  Cheflerfield  monthly -meeting,  my 
friend  John  Woolman  met  me  the  next  day? 
a  raw  company  attending  on  account  of  a 
propofal  or  two  for  marriage,  which,  I  fup- 
pofe,  they  expected  to  be  there  prefented; 
it  was  a  time  fomewhat  low  and  diflrefiing. 
The  advice  of  the  yearly- meeting  not  being 
here  enough  obferved,  which  is  againft  al- 
lowing fuch  who  are  not  members  of  our 
fociety  to  lit  in  our  meetings  for  difcipline, 
unlefs  they  are  nearly  related  to  the  parties 
concerned,  of  which  that  meeting  was  mo- 
deftly  reminded.  I  was  alfo  grieved  that 
matters  were  introduced  too  much  at  the 
judgment  or  pleafure  of  individuals,  by  rea- 
fon  that  they  are  not  in  the  practice  of 
holding  preparative  meetings ;  the  fervice 
©f  which  was  particularly  recommended  to 

their 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    269 

their  confideration.  I  had  fome  reward  of 
peace  in  having  attended  this  meeting.  We 
were  next  at  a  meeting  in  Trenton  with  a 
few  friends,  whom  the  fpirit  of  the  world 
(I  thought)  had  much  laid  wafte.  There 
feemed  more  opennefs  towards  a  few  of 
other  focieties  prefent,  forne  of  whom  were 
tendered  by  truth's  teftimony,  which  feemed 
to  reach  the  witnefs  in  them.  At  Borden- 
town  meeting,  next  day,  many  were  made 
thankful,  the  Divine  prefence  being  felt 
among  us.  From  hence  John  Woolman 
returned  home,  and  John  Sykes  accompanied 
me  to  Upper  Springfield,  where  the  meeting 
was  large,  and,  through  the  Lord's  mercy, 
open  and  fatisfactory,  the  teftimony  of  truth 
flowing,  in  his  love,  towards  the  youth,  many 
were  tendered  thereby,  the  faithful  were 
encouraged,  and  the  negligent  warned.  Af- 
ter which  I  went  to  Burlington,  to  attend 
that  monthly-meeting,  then  to  the  burial 
of  Margaret  Butcher,  at  Mansfield;  which 
was  a  laborious  painful  meeting,  compofed 
of  a  mixed  multitude,  yet  fomething  of  an 
evidence  attended  truth's  teftimony,  fo  that 
the  meeting  ended  with  folidity.  From 
thence  I  went  to  Peter  Harvey's,  and  was 
thankful  for  the  enjoyment  of  a  peaceful 
quiet  mind,  though  poor.  Next  day  was  at 
Old-Springfield  meeting,  which  was  flow 
and  late  in  gathering,  dull  and  heavy  in  fit- 
ting, as  will  be  the  cafe,  when  and  where- 
foever  the  life  and  power  of  religion  is 

wanting, 


£70     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

wanting,  or  not  carefully  fought  after  and 
waited  for,  by  thofe  who  profefs  it  -,  which 
was  obferved  to  them  in  the  love  of  truth, 
and  in  the  fimplicity  and  plainnefs  thereof: 
fo  that  I  left  this  meeting  with  a  heavy 
heart,  not  from  a  fenfe  of  any  omirTion  of 
duty  on  my  part,  but  left  they  fhould  too 
foon  forget  what  manner  of  perfons  they 
faw  themfelves  to  be  in  the  light,  that  dif- 
covers  and  anfwers  the  witnefs,  as  face  an- 
fwers  face  in  a  glafs.  Then  taking  meet- 
ings at  Mount  Holly,  Rancocus,  and  vifiting 
the  widow  of  Peter  Andrews,  I  was  at  a 
large  meeting  at  Evefham  on  firft  day  fol- 
lowing; but  the  expectations  of  the  people 
being  much  outward,  occalioned  a  painful 
deep  waiting  a  confiderable  time,  or  at  leaft 
I  thought  fo ;  when  at  length  I  felt  fome 
preffure  on  my  mind  to  ftand  up,  which  as 
I  followed  carefully,  truth  opened  into  the 
ftate  of  the  meeting  to  my  admiration,  that 
I  was  enabled  therein  with  an  innocent  bold- 
nefs  to  attend  thereto  in  fpeaking;  which 
yielded  me  great  peace  after  the  meeting, 
and  I  was  thankful  for  that  opportunity. 
Next  day  I  attended  Haddonfield  monthly- 
meeting,  at  which  were  Samuel  Nottingham 
and  William  Home,  whofe  company  was 
comfortable,  and  of  advantage  to  the  meet- 
ing. I  then  vifited  the  meetings  at  Pilef- 
grove,  Alloways  Creek,  Greenwich,  Lower 
Alloways  Creek,  Salem,  and  one  at  Rac- 
coon Creek,  to  which  many  fober  people 
came,  not  profeiling  with  us;  alfo  a  large, 

and 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    271 

and  I  believe  to  fome  a  fatisfadory  meeting, 
at  Woodberry,  the  ftate  whereof  opened 
pretty  clearly,  the  humble  being  inftru&ed  ; 
but  I  was  fenfible  of  an  oppoiition  here  to 
Ibme  part  of  what  I  had  to  deliver  to  a  felf- 
righteous  ftate;  yet,  through  the  mercy  of 
our  gracious  Lord,  I  left  this  meeting  with 
an  evidence  of  peace,  and  an  affectionate 
heart-yearning  towards  them.  Then  went  to 
Haddonfield,  to  attend  the  quarterly-meet- 
ing for  Gloucefter  and  Salem  counties,  and 
from  thence  to  the  general  fpring-meeting 
at  Philadelphia;  after  which  I  returned 
home,  having  been  out  five  weeks  and  three 
days. 

After  this  journey  I  did  not  go  much 
abroad  for  more  than  a  year,  except  to  at- 
tend our  quarterly-meeting,  and  the  yearly 
and  general  fpring-meeting  at  Philadelphia. 

In  the  year  1759,  I  had  fome  drawings  in 
my  mind  to  viiit  a  few  meetings  in  Mary- 
land and  Virginia,  alfo  the  yearly-meeting 
at  Weft-River;  in  which  having  the  con- 
currence of  our  monthly-meeting,  I  left 
home  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  the  fifth 
month,  and  next  day  was  at  Gunpowder- 
meeting;  then  at  Elkridge,  with  a  few 
friends  and  divers  not  proferTing  with  us,, 
amongft  whom  there  was  an  opennefs  to  hear 
the  teftimony  of  truth  declared;  but  for 
want  of  a  fteady  walking  in  the  profeilbrs 
thereof,  it  feems  in  a  great  mealure  laid 
wafle.  That  night  I  lodged  at  the  houfe  of 

a  kind 


272     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

a  kind  ,man,  but  have  to  remark,  that  na- 
tural affability  in  any  one,  unlefs  it  is  fweet- 
ened  by  the  baptifm  of  the  fpirit  of  truth, 
is  of  little  value.  On  fifth  day  I  was  at  a 
new  meeting- houfe,  at  Indian  Spring,  with 
a  few  friends,  fome  of  whom,  I  fear,  fcarcely 
know  what  they  profefs.  The  next'  had  a 
meeting  at  Samuel  Plummer's  houfe,  at  Pa- 
tuxent,  to  fatisfadlion  :  and  on  feventh  day 
the  yearly-meeting  at  Weft-River  began, 
which  held  until  fourth  day  following; 
which  was  in  the  main  the  moft  open  and 
fatisfactory  meeting  I '  was  ever  at  in  that 
place:  I  thought  a  difpolition  rather  pre- 
vailed among  the  younger  fort,  to  attend  to 
the  difcipline  more  clofely  than  in  times 
paft.  Then  taking  a  meeting  at  Sandy 
Spring,  I  proceeded  to  Fairfax,  being  about 
forty  miles,  where  I  had  a  comfortable  meet- 
ing on  firft  day;  for  which  the  hearts  of 
many  were  made  thankful  to  the  Author  of 
all  good :  the  fame  day  we  had  alfo  a  fatif- 
fadtory  opportunity  in  Mahlon  Janney's  fa- 
mily, his  mother  being  indifpofed ;  and  the 
next  day  attended  Monaquafy  meeting  in 
Maryland,  where  truth  is  at  a  low  ebb, 
through  the  conduct  of  fome  unfaithful 
profeffors.  Our  next  was  a  precious  meet- 
ing, with  a  few  lincere  friends,  at  Bum- 
Creek :  that  evening  I  went  to  William 
Farquar's,  having  a  meeting  at  Pipe  Creek 
next  day,  which  was  pretty  open  and  fatif- 
fa&ory;  and  one  the  day  following  at  Pe- 

tapfco 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    273 

tapfco  Foreft,  amongft  a  withered  people. 
Alas  !  to  profefs  the  truth,  and  not  to.  pof- 
fefs  it  in  iandtification  of  fpirit,  makes  little 
meetings  feel  defolate.  From  thence  I  re- 
turned home  to  our  monthly  meeting,  being 
abfent  nineteen  days,  and  rode  near  three 
hundred  and  fifty  miles,  Samuel  England 
being  my  companion. 

In  this  year  I  was  alfo  engaged  with  my 
friend  John  Woolman,  in  viiiting  fome  ac- 
tive members  of  our  fociety,  who  held  Haves, 
firft  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  in  other 
places ;  alfo  in  New- Jerfey,  in  which  fer- 
vice  we  were  enabled  to  go  through  fome 
heavy  labours,  and  were  favoured  with 
peace;  divine  love  in  a  tender  fympathy 
prevailing  at  times,  with  a  hope  that  thefe 
endeavours  would  not  be  in  vain. 

In  the  fecond  month  1760,  I  acquainted 
our  monthly-meeting,  that  in  order  to  pro- 
ceed in  performing  the  appointment  of  the 
yearly-meeting,  having  alfo  a  draught  in  my 
own  mind,  I  had  an  inclination  to  vifit  fome 
meetings  up  the  river  Delaware,  particularly 
the  monthly-meeting  of  Kingwood,  in  New- 
Jerfey,  with  which,  having  the  approbation 
of  friends,  I  fet  out  from  home  on  the 
twenty-fixth  of  the  fifth  month  following, 
and  reached  the  Bank- meeting  in  Philadel- 
phia the  next  day.  From  thence  proceeded 
to  the  quarterly-meeting  for  Bucks  County, 
held  at  Buckingham,  where,  though  things 
were  low,  the  affairs  of  the  church  were 
T  tranfafted 


274     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

tranfadted  in  a  good  degree  of  amity  and 
peace.  It  was  a  large  meeting,  there  being 
a  great  appearance  of  young  people,  fome 
very  hopeful,  who  in  the  love  of  truth  were 
exhorted  to  come  up  in  their  places,  by 
learning  difcipline  of  the  author  thereof, 
viz.  the  Spirit  of  Truth;  and  they  were 
cautioned  againft  that  very  unbecoming  and 
hurtful  practice,  though  too  common,  of 
going  out  after  worfhip,  and  ftanding  with- 
out in  companies  talking,  when  they  mould 
keep  their  places  in  the  meeting,  which 
mould  quietly  and  folidly  proceed  on  the 
bufinefs  coming  before  it :  heavenly  love 
was  felt  by  the  tender  in  fpirit,  which  I 
hope  will  be  remembered  by  many.  The 
next  day  the  general  or  youth's  meeting  was 
large,  open,  and  fatisfadlory  in  the  main ; 
for  which  the  name  of  the  Lord  was  praifed. 
Next  day  I  fpent  in  vifiting  a  widow,  alfo 
other  aged  and  infirm  friends;  in  the  per- 
formance of  which  duty  I  had  fome  fatif- 
f action :  and  on  firfl  day  was  at  Plumftead 
meeting,  which  was  large,  and  very  com- 
fortable; the  Divine  prefence  being  felt,  the 
power  of  truth  prevailed,  to  the  tendering 
of  many  :  but  fuch  favour  being  not  of  him 
that  willeth  or  runneth,  but  of  God,  that 
meweth  mercy,  to  him  belongeth  the  praife 
of  all,  who  is  worthy  for  ever !  In  the  even- 
ing I  attended  a  meeting  at  a  fchool-houfe, 
near  Samuel  Eaftburn's,  in  which  I  had 
fome  particular  fervice,  the  ftates  of  many 

prefent 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    275 

prefent  being  very  clearly  opened  before 
them  in  the  love  of  the  gofpel,  which  made 
deep  impreffion  on  fome  who  were  much 
broken ;  and  I  believe  it  would  be  as  dew- 
on  their  hearts,  if  they  would  remain  enough 
in  the  valley  of  humility. 

I  was  the  next  day  at  Buckingham  month- 
ly-meeting, which  in  the  time  of  bufinefs 
fuffered  much  by  the  prevalence  of  a  talka- 
tive noify  fpirit,  which  mightily  darkens 
counfel  in  thofe  who  give  way  to  it,  and 
leads  into  doubtful  and  trifling  difputations ; 
fo  that  I  left  that  meeting  with  pain  of 
heart,  in  a  fenfe  that  the  time  had  been  fo 
loft,  that  feveral  weighty  matters  could  not 
be  brought  under  conlideration  to  advantage, 
which  were  therefore  continued  until  the 
next  month. 

Wrightftown  monthly-meeting  on  third 
day  was  more  fatisfactory,  the  fpirit  for  dif- 
cipline  rather  reviving,  and  I  hope  a  defire, 
among  the  youth  at  leaft,  for  an  improve- 
ment. It  too  frequently  is  the  cafe,  that 
fome  of  the  elderly  fort  are  fo  bigotted  to 
their  old  forms  and  cuftoms,  that  they  will 
fcarcely  trouble  themfelves  to  examine  whe- 
ther thefe  cuftoms  are  agreeable  to  the  tefti- 
mony  of  truth,  or  whether  through  inat- 
tention they  have  not  fwerved  and  fallen 
ihort  in  various  matters,  that  now  occafion 
a  difficulty  in  the  churches,  which  diffi- 
culties muft  be  laboured  under  for  a  fea- 
fon  by  the  baptized  members,  who,  never- 
T  2  thelefs, 


276     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

thelefs,  as  they  keep  their  places  will  grow 
ftronger. 

Accompanied  by  my  friend  Thomas  Rofs, 
I  attended  the  Falls  monthly-meeting,  where- 
in I  was  comforted,  from  a  fenle  that  a 
tender  people  were  among  them,  though 
they  felt  a  time  of  dearth,  whom  the  Lord 
would  in  his  own  time  water  as  his  peculiar 
heritage :  but  this  comfort  was  heavily  bal- 
lafted  from  a  fecret  fear  attending  me,  that 
there  were  among  them  ibme,  who,  like  the 
heath  in  the  defert,  know  not  when  good 
cometh ;  fuch  who  were  eafy  in  a  dead 
form,  and  contented  with  a  name,  neglect  - 
ing  to  wait  for  that  transforming  power, 
which  would  renew  into  the  image  and  life 
of  the  Son  of  God ;  to  whom,  in  the  love 
and  plainnefs  of  the  goipel,  I  was  conftrained 
to  clear  myfelf.  The  meeting  for  difcipline 
was  pretty  open,  and  ended  in  a  good  degree 
of  fweetnefs.  We  went  home  with  the 
wife  of  Jofeph  White,  who  was  then  on  a 
religious  vifit  to  friends  in  Europe,  and  had 
a  comfortable  feafon  in  the  family  with  the 
children;  me  appearing  to  be  refigned  in 
the  abfence  of  her  hufband,  her  fpirit  being 
fweetened  with  the  truth  in  innocent  qui- 
etude. 

At  Middietown  monthly-meeting  the  next 
day  truth  feemed  to  be  low,  but  we  had 
Ibme  fervice  in  the  difcipline,  that  I  came 
away  with  peace ;  and  the  day  following,  in 
company  with  Jomua  Ely,  went  to  Jacob 

Birdmal's, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    277 

Birdmal's,  in  Amwell  townfhip,  New-Jer- 
fey,  and  had  a  meeting  in  his  barn,  which 
(being  a  wet  time)  was  fmall :  there  are  few 
here  who  profefs  with  us,  fome  of  whom 
feem  to  have  nothing  more  than  the  name. 
Next  morning  we  called  at  the  houfe  of  an 
old  profefTor;  he  and  his  wife  were  both 
ancient,  but  full  of  talk.  I  felt  a  defire  to 
viiit  them,  and  had  a  full  time  to  clear  my- 
felf,  in  a  clofe  and  plain  manner,  though 
in  love  to  them.  After  which,  going  to 
Kingwood,  or  Bethlehem,  attended  two 
meetings  there  on  firft  day,  when  truth  fa- 
voured in  opening  the  ftates  of  the  people 
in  mercy  to  many  -,  which  may  be  of  advan- 
tage, if  rightly  remembered.  Then  pro- 
ceeding to  the  Drowned-lands,  fo  called, 
had  there  a  meeting  with  a  few  profeflbrs, 
who  feemed  too  much  withered :  then  tak- 
ing another  at  Paulin's  Kiln,  to  pretty  good 
fatisfa&ion,  returned  to  Kingwood  monthly- 
meeting,  then  held  at  Hardwick:  feveral 
hopeful  young  people  belong  thereto;  the 
meeting  was  comfortable,  friends  rejoicing 
in  the  company  one  of  another,  and  in  the 
Lord,  for  his  merciful  regard.  Next  day  I 
returned  to  Bethlehem,  and  from  thence  to 
Gwynedd  meeting  on  firft  day;  after  which 
I  rode  to  Uwchlan,  about  twenty-eight  miles, 
from  thence  home,  where  I  found  all  well, 
having  been  abfent  three  weeks,  and  rode 
about  four  hundred  and  fixteen  miles  in  this 
journey. 

T  3  Having 


278     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Having  a  draught  of  love,  and  a  motion 
therein,  to  vifit  the  monthly  and  particular 
meetings   within  our   own   quarter,    on  the 
Weft  fide   of  Sufquehanna  river,  with  the 
concurrence  of  our  monthly-meeting  on  that 
occaiion,  I  fat  out  from  home  on  the  feven- 
teenth  of  the  tenth  month,  in  company  with 
my  brother-in-law,  James  Brown,  who  like- 
wife  had  the  approbation  of  Gofhen  month- 
ly-meeting for   this   purpofe.      We    vifited 
the  meetings  at    Pipe  Creek,    Bufh   Creek, 
and   Monaquafy,  in   Maryland,  in   the   firft 
of  which  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  favour  in 
opening  the  ftate  of  friends  to  the  tendering 
the  hearts  of  many;    the  other  was    fatif- 
factory,  and  the  laft  feemed  to  be  a  renewed 
vifitation  to  a  raw  declining  people,  feveral 
of  whom  were  tendered,  through  the  gra- 
cious   long-fuffering    of    infinite    goodnefs. 
We  were  next  at  the  preparative  meeting  at 
Fairfax  in  Virginia  -,  then   at  Goofe  Creek, 
wherein    truth   owned    our  fervice,    to    the 
comfort  of  the  faithful.     We  then  attended 
the  meeting  of  minifters  and  elders,  alfo  the 
monthly -meeting  at  Fairfax,    likewife  the 
firft-day  meeting  there,  and  one  that  evening 
in   Francis  Hague's  houfe,  whofe  wife  was 
indifpofed  :  feveral  diforderly  walkers  being 
prefent,  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  open,  and 
give  ability  to  fpeak  to  their  ftates  in  a  mea- 
fure   of   his    heart    tendering    love,    to    the 
reaching  the  witnefs  in   fome.     After   this 
returning  to  the  widow  Janny's,  we  had  a 

precious 


OF    JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    279 

precious  opportuity  with  her  and  children, 
to  our  mutual  fatisfaction. 

Our  next  meeting  was  at  Pott's,  near  the 
South-mountain,  which  was  open  for  doc- 
trine, feveral   of  other  religious  profeffions 
attending,  who  appeared  loving,    and  well 
fatisfied ;    then    at   Crooked-run,    near   the 
north  branch  of  Shanandoa-river,  in  com- 
pany with  feveral  other  friends  from  Penn- 
fylvania,    fome    of    us    being   a  committee 
appointed    by    our    quarterly-meeting,    the 
friends  living  here  having  requefted  to  have 
a  meeting   fettled  among  them.     The  op- 
portunity   was    to    fome   fatisfaction,    there 
being  fome  young  people,  who,  I  hope,  will 
grow  in  the   truth,   though  fome  of  thofe 
who  are  elderly  appear  too  fuperficial.  From 
hence    we   went    to   Hopewell    preparative 
meeting,  alfo  to  a  fmall  meeting   over  the 
mountain  near  JeiTe  Pugh's  j    then  we  at- 
tended a  felect  meeting  at  Hopewell,  and  at 
the  fame  place  on  firft  day,  which  was  large 
and  folid,    many  therein    being  much  ten- 
dered,   to    the    praife  of   the  Lord,  whofe 
mercy  endureth  for   ever !    In   the  evening 
we  had  alfo  a  fatisfaclory  meeting  at  the  wi- 
dow Lupton's,  near  Winchefter.     Next  day 
we    were  Nat    Hopewell    monthly  -  meeting, 
where  we  found  confiderable  weaknefs,   as 
to  the  practice  of  the  difcipline,  on  which 
account  we  had  fome  labour,  to  the  comfort 
of  the  well-minded.      On    our   return  we 
Jiad    meetings    at   Monallan,     Huntington, 
T  4  War- 


28o     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Warrington,  and  Newberry  in  York  county, 
Pennfylvania,  and  a  feafonable  opportunity, 
with  friends  in  York- town ;  from  whence  I 
proceeded  home,  with  a  thankful  mind, 
having  travelled  about  four  hundred  miles  in 
this  journey. 

In  the  fpring  of  the  year  1761,  having 
an  engagement  on  my  mind  to  vifit  Barba- 
does,  and  fome  of  the  adjacent  iflands, 
J  propofed  the  fame  to  my  brethren  at  home 
for  their  weighty  confideration,  before  1 
afked  for  their  certificate,  who,  after  a  time, 
exprefled  their  unity  therewith,  and  gave 
me  a  certificate,  to  which  the  quarterly- 
meeting  lignified  their  approbation.  At  our 
next  yearly-meeting  I  laid  my  concern  be- 
fore the  minifters  and  elders,  when,  for  any 
thing  that  appeared,  I  had  their  unity  and 
prayers.  I  came  home  intending  to  proceed 
before  the  winter  fet  in,  and  attended  our 
general  meeting  at  Nottingham  in  the  tenth 
month,  but  in  a  few  days  after  was  taken  ill 
of  a  fever,  which,  with  bodily  pain,  and 
exercife  of  mind,  reduced  me  to  a  very  low 
and  weak  ftate  -y  *  but  the  Lord  was  pleafed 
to  give  me  inward  ftrength,  influencing  my 
mind  with  love  to  all  men,  and  great  love 
to  the  members  of  our  religious  fociety,  the 
ftate  whereof  I  faw  in  a  clear  manner ;  and 
I  fo  far  recovered  as  to  attend  our  quarterly- 
meeting  at  London  Grove,  in  the  eleventh 

*  See  page  285. 

month, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     281 

month,  at  which  I  had  an  opportunity  to 
Clear  myfelf,  to  my  humble  admiration,  and 
was  inwardly  comforted.  Soon  after  which 
(my  concern  for  going  to  Barbadoes  continu- 
ing) I  went  to  Philadelphia  to  enquire  for  a 
paflage,  when  my  friends  informed  me  of 
five  veffels,  three  of  which  were  near  ready 
to  fail ;  but  underitanding  that  all  of  them 
were  prepared  with  guns  for  defence,  I  felt  a 
fecret  exercife  on  my  mind,  fo  that  I  could  not 

fo  to  fee  any  of  them,  but  kept  quiet  from 
xth  day  evening  until  fecond  day  morning, 
when  I  went  to  the  meeting  of  minifters  and 
elders,  where  I  had  a  fingular  freedom  to  let 
friends  know,  '  That  I  came  to  town  in  order 
'  to  take  my  pafTage  for  Barbadoes,  but  found 

*  myfelf  not  at  liberty  to  go  in  any  of  thofe 

*  veflels,  becaufe  they  carried  arms  for  de- 
'  fence :  for  as  my  motive  in  going,  was  to 
'  publifli  "  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gofpel, 
*c  which  teacheth  love  to  all  men,"  '  I  could 
'  not  go  with  thofe  who  were  prepared  to 
'  deflroy  men,  whom  Chrift  Jefus,  our  Lord 
'  and  Mafter,  laid  down  his  life  to  fave  and 
'  deliver  from  that  fpirit  in  which  wars  and 
'  fightings  ftand.'     I   further  added,   '  If  I 
'  had  a  concern  to  vifit  in  gofpel  love  thofe 
'  now  living  at   Pittfburgh,    or    Fort   Du- 
'  quefne,    do   you    think  it  would  become 
'  me  to  go  with  a  band  of  foldiers,  as  if  I 

*  wanted    the  arm  of  fleih    to   guard   me  ? 

*  Would   it  not   be   more   becoming  to  go 

*  with 


282     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  with  a  few  fimple  unarmed  men  ?  I  now 
'  tenderly  defire  your  fympathy  and  advice.* 
One  honeft  friend  faid,  '  Keep  to  the  tender 
'  fcruple  in  thy  own  mind,  for  it  rejoices 
'  me  to  hear  it/  and  feveral  faid,  '  they 
*  believed  it  would  be  beft  for  me  to  mind 
'  my  own  freedom/  I  then  begged  that 
friends  would  conlider  weightily,  whether  it 
was  right  for  any  profeffing  with  us  to  be 
owners,  or  part  owners,  charterers,  freight- 
ers, or  infurers  of  fuch  veffels  that  a  friend 
could  not  be  free  to  go  pafTenger  in  on  a 
gofpel  mefTage.  And  as  I  returned  to  my 
lodgings,  I  felt  fo  much  peace  of  mind  in 
thus  bearing  my  teftirnony,  that  I  thought 
if  all  my  concern  ended  therein,  it  was  worth 
all  my  trouble,  though  at  that  time  I  did 
not  think  it  would,  yet  was  quite  eafy  to 
return  home,  and  wait  until  my  way  ap- 
peared more  open.  And  as  my  concern  went 
off  in  this  manner,  I  have  been  fince  led  to 
confider,  that  I  could  not  have  borne  that 
teftimony  fo  fully  and  feelingly,  if  I  had 
not  been  thus  retrained.  "  The  wifdom 
"  and  judgments  of  the  Lord  are  unfearch- 
"  able,  and  his  ways  paft  finding  out,  and 
"  happy  are  they  who  move  at  his  com- 
"  mand,  and  ftand  ftedfaft  in  his  counfel." 
Our  worthy  friends  John  Stephenfon, 
Robert  Proud,  Hannah  Harris,  and  Eliza- 
beth Wilkinfon,  of  Great  Britain,  being  in 
this  country,  on  a  religious  vifit,  attended 
our  yearly-meeting  in  Philadelphia  this  year, 

which 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     283 

which  was  large,  and  favoured  with  hum- 
bling goodnefs,  and  in  a  fenfe  of  the  Divine 
prefence,  that  meeting  ended  very  folidly. 
The  fervices  of  thefe  friends,  I  think,  have 
been  great  amongft  us  in  this  land,  both  in 
their  publick  miniflry,  alfo  in  the  difcipline 
of  the  church,  and  the  remembrance  there- 
of is  precious,  I  believe,  to  many,  whom 
the  Lord  is  preparing  for  his  work. 

After  this  I  fpent  a  confiderable  time  at 
and  near  home,  except  attending  the  quar- 
terly, yearly-meetings,  and  the  general  fpring- 
meetings,  as  they  came  in  courfej  in  the 
mean  time  being  careful  to  frequent  the 
meeting  I  belonged  to. 

A  new  monthly-meeting  being  allowed  to 
be  eftabliflied  at  Uwchlan,  in  Chefter  coun- 
ty, it  arofe  in  my  mind  to  falute  friends 
there  with  an  epiftle,  a  copy  whereof  I  fent 
to  their  firft  meeting  in  the  firft  month, 
1763,  being  as  follows  : 

'  DEAR  FRIENDS, 

'  TN  the  gentle  fpringing  up  of  gofpel 
JL  '  love  and  fellowship  I  falute  you,  my 
dear  brethren  and  fitters,  and  hereby  let 
you  know,  that  it  is  my  fervent  defire  and 
prayer,  that  you  may  individually  attend 
to  the  gift  of  God  in  your  own  hearts, 
and  therein  wait  for  the  ariling  of  his  pure 
life  and  power,  that  therein  and  thereby 

'  only,  the  affairs  of  the  church  may  be 

'  tranfa&ed 


284     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

«  tranfadted  to  the  honour  of  truth  and  your 

(  own  peace  and  fafety :  for  to  fpeak  in  the 

(  church  to  the  bufmefs  and  affairs  of  truth, 

,  by  the  will,  wifdom,  and  power  of  man, 

,  (however  knowing  he  thinks  himfelf)  will 

,  lead  into  it's  own  nature,  and  in  the  end 

(  minifter  ftrife  and  contention,  and  break 

€  the  unity  of  the  one  fpirit,  wherein  the 

t  peace  of  the  church  flands.    Wherefore,  I 

befeech   you,    beware   thereof,    and  as  I 

know  there  are  among  you  fuch,  whom 

the  Lord    by  his  Spirit,    and   the   gentle 

operation  of  his  power,  is  preparing  for 

his  own  work,  mind  your  calling,  in  deep 

humility,  and  holy  attention  of  foul ;  for 

in  your  obedience  only,  will  you  be  elected 

arid  chofen  to  the  work  whereunto  he  hath 

called  you :    fo  mall  you  be   made  fkilful 

'  watchmen  and  watchwomen,    placed   on 

*  the  walls  of  Zion  to  difcover  the  approach 
'  of  an  enemy,    in   whatfoever    fubtle  ap- 
'  pearance,    and   enabled    to   give   warning 

*  thereof  to  others.     May  each  of  you  ftand 
'  upright  in  your  own  lots  in  the  regenera- 
'  tion,  waiting  for  the  pouring  forth  of  the 
'  Spirit,  and  anointing  of  the  Holy  Ghoft, 
'  by  the  renewing  whereof,  a  true  qualifi- 

*  cation  is  given  in  the  influence  of  the  love 
'  of  the  Father,  rightly  to  overfee  the  flock 
•and  family   of  our  God,   amongft  whom 

*  there  are  fome  plants  with  you  worthy  of 

*  your  care. 

<  I 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     285 

'  I  mould  have  been  glad  to  have  fat  with 
you,  in  your  monthly-meeting,  from  the 
fenfe  of  that  love  which  I  now  renewedly 
feel  to  fpring  and  flow  towards  you,  but 
cannot  well  leave  home;  I  therefore,  at 
this  time,  in  the  pure  refrefhing  flream 
thereof,  again  falute  you,  and  remain  your 
friend  and  brother, 

*  JOHN  CHURCHMAN/ 

1  Eaft  Nottingham, 
'  ift  month  4th,  1763.' 


In  the  time  of  his  illnefs  in  the  year  1761, 
as  mentioned  in  page  280,  he  uttered  divers 
weighty  expreffions,  fome  of  which  were 
committed  to  writing  by  a  friend  who  was 
prefent;  and  being  well  worthy  to  be  fur- 
ther preferved,  are  here  inferted,  viz. 

In  this  ficknefs  he  was  reduced  very  low, 
and  fometimes  faid  it  looked  unlikely  that 
he  mould  recover :  in  the  fore  part  thereof 
he  often  mentioned  his  being  in  great  po,- 
verty  of  fpirit,  faying,  that  before  he  was 
taken  ill,  he  felt  fuch  deep  diilrefs  of  mind, 
that  he  thought  he  was  a  cumber  to  the 
ground,  and  fcarcely  worthy  to  partake  of 
the  meanefl  neceflaries  of  life,  that  even 
bread  and  water  feemed  too  good  for  him. 

On  the  fourth  of  the  eleventh  month, 
four  friends  being  prefent,  he  fpake  in  a 

very 


THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

very  awful  frame  of  mind  nearly  as  follows : 
Such  build  on  a  fandy  foundation  who 
refufe  paying  that  which  is  called  the  pro- 
vincial or  king's  tax,  only  becaufe  fome 
others  fcruple  paying  it,  whom  they  efteem, 
yet  I  have  now  clearly  feen,  as  well  as 
heretofore,  that  the  teftimony  of  truth, 
if  deeply  attended  too,  will  not  be  found 
to  unite  with  warlike  meafures :  and  that 
it  will,  in  the  Lord's  time,  be  exalted 
above  all  oppolition,  and  come  to  pofTefs 
even  the  gates  of  it's  enemies ;  though  it 
may  appear  mean  and  contemptible  in  the 
eyes  of  fome  now-a-days,  as  the  conduct 
of  our  primitive  friends  did,  in  divers  re- 
fpects  in  the  world's  view.  And  whofoever 
continues  to  trample  upon  or  defpife  the 
tender  fcruples  of  their  brethren,  in  re- 
lation to  their  clearnefs  concerning  war, 
will  certainly  find  it  a  weight  too  heavy 
for  them  to  bear. 

*  My  teftimony  on  this  account,  fo  far 
as  I  have  borne  it,  yields  me  fatisfa&ion 
at  this  time :  and  the  painful  fleps  I  have 
taken,  on  fundry  occaiions,  both  in  publiclc 
and  private,  to  difcharge  my  confcience 
in  the  fight  of  God,  in  giving  faithful 
warnings  to  my  brethren  and  conntrymen, 
both  in  a  civil  and  religious  capacity,  af- 
ford me  comfort  in  this  diftreffing  feafon. 
I  have  clearly  feen,  and  the  profpecl:  at 
this  time  adds  divine  ftrength  to  my  foul, 
that  the  Goxi  of  Truth  is  determined,  in 

<  due 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN. 

*  due  time,    to  exalt  the  mountain  of  his 
'  holinefs  above  all  the  hills  of  an   empty 

*  profeffion ;  and  all  fuch  who  mall  be  ad- 

*  mitted  as    clean   inhabitants    thereon,    he 
'  wills  them  to  be  quite  clean  handed ;  and, 

*  that  they  mould  become  fubjedt  to    the 
'  Lamb's  nature  in  every  refpedt,    and   not 

*  make  hands  with  that  nature  which  would 

*  tear  and  devour,  nor  in  any  fhape  contri- 

*  bute  to  the  price  of  blood.' 

At  another  time  he  faid,  '  I  have   been 

'  led,    in    the   prefent  difpenfation   allotted 

*  me,  to  behold  the  lituation  of  divers  par- 
'  ticular  friends,  to  whom  I  feel  ardent  af- 
'  fedtion,  who  feem  to  have  given,  or  fold 

*  away,  for  this  world's  friendship,  the  tef- 
'  timony   they   mould  have  borne   for  the 

*  Prince  of  Peace,  who  is  the  High  Prieft 

*  of  our  profeffion ;  and,  for  fear  of  break- 

*  ing  an  outfide    unity,    which    will  furely 
'  come  to  be  broken,  that  the  true  unity  in 

*  the  bond  of  peace  may  be  exalted,  have 
'  adled  contrary  to  the  former  light  of  their 

*  duty,    and  are  thereby  become  halt,  and 
'  dimfighted  in  feveral  refpedts;  fuch,  though 
'  they  ftill  feem  to  defire  it,  cannot  attain. 

*  to  the  fpotlefs  beauty  of  truth,  nor  ap- 

*  proach   to  the  top  of  the  mountain :  on 

*  whofe  account  I  am  afraid  that  fome  of 
'  them    will    never    recover    their    former 

*  ftrength,    nor   attain   to  that  dignity  the 

*  truth  would   have  placed  upon  them,  if 
'  they  had  been  faithful :    the  fituation  of 

'  whom 


238     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  whom  I  have  bewailed  with  anxiety  of 
'  mind.  I  have  been  from  my  youth  up 
'  accuftomed  to  forrow,  and  am  a  man  ac- 
'  quainted  with  grief,  and  now  remarkably  : 
'  the  lives  of  my  brethren,  and  of  all  men, 
'  appear  exceeding  precious  in  my  fight.  It 
'  looks  doubtful  whether  I  mall  ever  fee 
'  my  friends  met  in  a  quarterly-meeting 
'  again,  yet,  if  it  be  the  will  of  Divine 

*  Providence,  I  much  defire  it;  having  here- 
'  tofore,  through  a  timorous  difpofition,  left 
'  I  mould  offend  fome,  and  for  fear  of  the 
'  frowns  of  elder  brethren,  concealed  fome 

*  things  I  mould  have  declared.     And  if  I 
'  mould  now   never  more  have   a   publick 
'  opportunity,  I  fpeak  this  in  your  hearing, 

*  to  let  it  be  known  that  I  am  fr.il!  a  well- 
'  wifher  to  all  men,  and  that  my  integrity 
'  to  the  teftimony  of  truth,  againft  all  con- 
'  nedtions  with  wars  and  fighting,  is  now 
'  full  as  flrong,  or  flronger  than  ever.' 

On  fecond  day  morning,  the  ninth  of  the 
eleventh  month,  he  faid  to  this  effect,  viz. 
I  have  been  led  to  fee  the  neceffity  there 
is  for  friends  to  beware  of  the  cuftom  of 
drinking  drams,  or  flrong  fpirits  mixed;  I 
have  for  many  years  rarely  taken  any,  ex- 
cept on  particular  occalions,  and  then  but 
a  very  fmall  quantity.  It  is  my  judgment, 
that  the  lefs  any  of  us  accuftom  ourfelves 
to  the  ufe  of  thofe  fpirits,  the  better  it 
would  be  for  our  confhtutions  in  general. 
I  believe  it  is  not  confident  with  the  will 

«  of 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     289 

'  of  Divine  Providence,  that  the  courfe  of 
'  nature  mould  be  obftructed  and  changed, 
'  and  our  animal  fpirits  corrupted,  through 
'the  unnatural  warmth  of  fpirituous  li- 
'  quors. 

'  From  my  prefent  fenfe  and  feeling  of 
'  that   regular   temperance   which    is    truly 

*  pleating  in    the   eyes  of  Heaven,    I  have 
'  mourned    that   the    ufe   of   ftrong    drink 
'  mould  become   fo  prevalent   amongft   us, 
'  who  -make   fo  high   a  profeffion ;    whofe 
'  bodies    mould    be    temples    of  the   Holy 
'  Ghoft,  and  mould  not  be  defiled,  or  tainted 

*  with  any  degree  of  intemperance.    In  har- 
'  veft  there  is  generally  plenty  of  other  re- 

*  frefhment,  which  would  keep  the  bodies 
'  of  men  as  ftrong,  and  as  capable  to  per- 
'  form  hard  labour :  witnefs  the  health  and 

*  ftrength  of  our  forefathers  in  the  firft  fet- 
'  tlement  of  this  country,   when  ftrong  li- 

*  quors  were  very  little  ufed  amongft  them. 

'  Alas !  how  dimnefs  has  overtaken  us, 
'  when  we  compare  ourfelves,  and  our  prac- 
'  tices,  with  the  temperance  and  moderation 
'  of  our  forefathers,  and  the  early  fettlers 
'  of  this  province!  how  fumptuous  now  are 

*  the  tables,  how  rich  and  coftly  the  appa- 
'  rel,  the  diet,  and  the  furniture,  of  many 

*  of  our  friends,  even  in  the  country;  but 
'  more  efpecially  in  the  city !  How  is  the 
'  fimplicity  and  plainnefs  of  truth  departed 

*  from,  and  pomp  and  fplendid  appearances 

*  taken  their  place !    And  how  much  coft 

U  <  and 


290    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

and  time  might  be  fpared  from  needlefs 
things,  and  applied  to  better  ufes,  to  the 
bettering  of  our  country,  and  helping  to 
turn  away  the  judgment  which  hangs  over 
us,  in  part  occafioned  by  thefe  things. 
'  I  delire  that  my  grandchildren  may  be 
*  brought  up  in  a  plain  iimple  way,  accuf- 
tomed  to  induftry,  and  ibme  ufeful  bufi- 
nefs  in  the  creation ;  not  aiming  at  great 
eftates,  nor  following  others  in  that  wayj 
but  give  them  ufeful  learning;  and  rather 
chufe  hufbandry,  and  a  plain  calling  for 
them,  in  the  country,  than  endeavour  to 
promote  them  to  ways  of  merchandize : 
for  according  to  my  obfervation  from  my 
youth  up,  the  former  is  lefs  dangerous, 
and  lefs  corrupting.  I  obferved  when  I 
was  in  England,  that  fome  of  the  greateft 
and  wifeft  men,  in  a  religious  fenfe,  were 
brought  up  at  the  plough  tail,  or  in  fome 
laborious  occupation ;  where  the  mind  is 
lefs  liable  to  be  diverted  from  an  awful 
fenfe  of  the  Creator,  than  in  an  eafy  idle 
education.  How  many  great  men  there  are, 
whom  I  could  name,  whofe  way  of  living 
is  mean  and  homely,  in  this  world's  ac- 
count, fo  that  they  have  little  more  than 
real  neceffity  requires ;  and  yet  they  are 
rich  in  the  heft  fenfe.' 
The  next  day,  being  afked  how  he  was, 
he  faid  nearly  as  follows :  '  I  have  flept 
'  fweetly,  and  feem  much  refreshed ;  and 
*  though  I  feel  myfelf  very  weak  in  body, 

'  I  am 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     291 

I  am  full  of  Divine  confolation,  having 
never  before  had  fuch  profpects  of  hea- 
venly things :  it  feems  even  as  though  my 
foul  was  united  in  chorus  with  glorified 
faints  and  angels,  both  fleeping  and  wak- 
ing. I  now  believe  I  fhall  recover,  and 
that  this  ficknefs  did  not  happen  to  me 
altogether  on  my  own  account.  My  way 
to  recover  is  to  be  induflrious  and  diligent 
in  what  I  believe  is  required  of  me :  I 
have  many  meffages  to  deliver,  both  in 
publick,  and  privately  to  divers  friends, 
whom  I  have  feen  to  have  miffed  their 
way,  and  have  in  a  great  meafure  deprived 
themfelves  of  the  beauty  wherewith  an 
humble  abiding  in  the  truth  would  have 
dignified  them :  and  fome  of  my  elder  bre- 
thren, for  whom  I  feel  an  uncommon 
nearnefs  of  affection,  their  lives  never  ap- 
peared to  be  more  near  to  me,  and  I  dare 
not  conceal  counfel  from  tnem,  whether 
they  will  hear  or  forbear.  Yea,  I  thought 
laft  night,  I  had  a  clear  profpedl  of  the 
lituations  of  many  within  the  verge  of 
our  quarterly-meeting;  it  feemed  as  though 
the  inward  ftates  of  particulars  were  opened 
to  me  in  full  view ;  the  pure  life,  in  the 
brightnefs  of  religion,  never  appeared  to 
be  more  precious ;  an  uncommon  earneft- 
nefs  attends  my  mind,  for  the  recovery  of 
the  rebellious,  hypocritical,  and  back- 
fliding  profeffors  of  all  ranks  amongft  us  : 
and  if  I  get  to  our  quarterly- meeting, 
U  2  '  (which 


292     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

(which  I  believe  I  (hall)  and  can  have 
time  allowed  me  when  there,  I  have 
tidings,  important  tidings,  as  from  a  dy- 
ing man,  to  many  particulars.  I  have  feen 
the  myflery  of  the  three  days,  or  the 
prophet's  laying  three  days  and  three  nights 
in  the  belly  of  the  fim.  A  wicked  and 
adulterous  generation  are  now,  as  well  as 
formerly,  feeking  for  a  fign  to  things 
fpoken  clofely,  but  no  fign  mall  be  given 
them,  fave  the  fign  of  the  prophet  Jonah. 
Our  Saviour's  fufferings  for  mankind,  and 
afterwards  defcending  into  the  bowels  of 
the  earth,  prefigured  that  his  followers 
mutt,  after  his  pattern,  defcend  into  fpi- 
ritual  baptifm,  that  they  may  rife  again, 
freed  from  the  dregs  of  nature,  and  from 
the  corruptions  of  the  creaturely  pafifions, 
before  they  can  be  qualified  to  fee,  and 
fuitably  to  administer,  to  the  ftates  of 
others.  I  have  likewife  feen  the  my  fiery 
of  Ezekiel's  fufferings,  and  bearing  the 
fins  of  the  houfe  of  Ifrael  for  the  fpace 
of  390  days,  which  being  accomplimed, 
he  was  commanded  to  turn  on  the  other 
fide,  and  to  bear  the  fins  of  Judah  forty 
days,  for  the  corruptions  of  that  princely 
tribe,  who  fhould  have  been  as  way-marks 
to  others.  My  ftate  has  been  for  feveral 
years  part,  my  deep  baptifms,  and  painful 
fittings  in  our  meetings,  like  bearing  the 
rod  of  the  wicked ;  in  which  difpenfation 
J  have  been  fometimes  ready  to  conclude 

*  with 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHiMAN.     293 

*  with  Elijah,  that  the  altars  were  thrown 
'  down,  and  the  Lord's  prophets  flain,  and 
'  I,    a  mean,  worthlefs  fervant,  left  alone, 
'  and  that  my  life  was  fought  alfo.     I  have 
'  now  feen  the  ufe  of  thofe  difpenfations  to 

*  me,  with    the    ufe    of   my  late  ficknefs, 
'  whereby  I  am  reduced  to  great  weaknefs 
'  of  body ;    that    I  might   be  as  a  fign   to 

*  this  generation,  and,  as  with  the  mouth 
'  of  a  dying  man,  utter  tidings  without  fear 
'  of  giving  offence  :  tidings   which  I  have 
'  heretofore  concealed,  through  a  timorous 
'  difpofition.     I  have  feen  at  this  feafon  that 
'  the  Lord  hath  preferved  a  living  number 
'  in    Ifrael,  who  have  not  bowed  the  knee 

*  to  Baal,  or  the  god  of  this  world ;   I  have 
'  alfo   feen   the    conditions    of    many    who 
'  have   worshipped  ftrange   gods ;    and    the 
'  corruption  even  of  fome  who  have  afTumed 
'  the    ftation   of  minifters    in    our  fociety; 
'  how  they  are  deceived  fo  far  as  to  believe 
'  a  lye;  have  feen  lying  vifions,  and  have 
'  caufed  the   weak  to  ftumble :   they  have 
'  been   fpeaking  peace  to  the  people  as  in 
'  the  Lord's  name,  when  it  was  only  a  flam 
'  or  divination  of  their  own  brain;  which 
'  has  tended  to  corruption  and  putrefaction 
'  in   the  churches.     And  I  have  feen  how 
«  that  many  little  ones  have  laid  groaning, 
'  as    under   the    burden   and    oppreffion    of 
'  thefe   things;    whofe   day  of  redemption 

*  draweth  near,  when   they  mall   be  made 
'  by  the  Almighty,  as    bright  ftars  in  the 

U   7  '  firma- 


294     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  firmament  of  his  power ;,  and  thofe  who 
'  are  corrupt,  and  fettled  on  their  lees,  mall 

*  be  punifhed.     In  this  difpenfation  I  have 
'  abundantly  witneffed  the  incomes  of  that 
'  peace  and  love  which  paffeth  all  under- 
'  /landing ;   neither  my  tongue  nor  capacity 
'  are  able  to   fet  forth  the  bowels  of  com- 
'  paffion  which   I  livingly  feel  to  flow  to- 
'  wards   the   whole  bulk   of  mankind,  and 

*  efpecially   to   my  brethren    in   profeffion. 
'  Yea,    it    feems    as    though    no    affliction 
c  would   be   too  .great  to   endure  for  their 

*  fakes,  if  it  might  be  a  means  to  have  fome 

*  of  them  (whofe  iituation  I  have  now  been 
f  led  to   behold  as  particulars)    reftored  to 
'  their  former  greennefs  and  fpiritual  health, 
'  from  whence  they  have  fallen,  and  dim- 
'  nefs   has    overtaken  them.      And   though 

*  my  outward  man  feems  almofl  wafted,  my 

*  fpirit  is  ftrong  in   the  Lord,  and,  in  the 

*  inexpreffible  ftrength  of  affection,  I  have 
'  found  my  fpirit  led  from  place   to  place 
'  over  the  country,  to  vifit  the  fouls  in  pri- 
'  fon.      Yea,     I  have   beheld  the  dawning 
'  of  that   precious  morning,  wherein    cor- 
'  ruption    mall    be    fwept   away   from   the 
'  church,  and  righteoufnefs  and  truth  begin 
'  to  flourifh  greatly.  The  day  feems  to  me  to 
'  be  at  hand ;  and  what  if  I  fay,  I  have  a 
c  degree  of  faith  that  fome  of  the  children 
'  now   born  may  live  to  fee  it.     Through 

*  innocent  boldnefs,  my  face  now  feems  to 
4  be  as  brafs ;  and,  in  the  openings  of  the 

*  viiion 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    295 

viiion  of  life,  I  think  I  could  utter  gofpel 
truths,  and  difcover  the  myflery  of  ini- 
quity which  I  have  feen,  without  fearing 
any  mortal  man.  I  may  be  raifed  to  live 
a  while  longer,  though  to  die  now  would 
be  a  welcome  releafe  to  me :  yea,  I  could 
not  defire  to  live,  but  for  the  longings  of 
foul,  and  pantings  of  heart,  which  I  fed 
towards  the  precious  feed  in  many  whom 
I  have  now  been  led  in  fpirit  jto  vifit.  I 
have  beheld  their  iituation  to  be  as  lumps, 
taken  or  cut  out  from  the  bowels  of  their 
mother  the  earth,  though  much  hidden 
from  the  view  of  mortals;  and  are  tem- 
pering and  famioning  by  the  Divine  Pot- 
ter, in  different  fhapes,  for  divers  ufes ; 
and  I  have  feen  that  the  Potter's  power  is 
fufficient  to  pick  out,  and  take  away, 
every  gravel  and  little  pebble  of  nature. 
Many  I  have  beheld  in  this  fituation,  fet 
by  (as  it  were)  out  of  fight  to  dry,  until 
all  the  dampnefs  and  natural  moiflure  is 
removed  from  them;  not  being  yet  fitted 
to  undergo  the  operation  of  burning:  but, 
when  properly  prepared,  and  thoroughly 
dried,  many  will  be  brought  to  the  fire, 
burned,  and  glazed,  fo  that  they  may  re- 
tain the  liquor  or  wine  of  the  kingdom 
with  a  fweet  tafte,  without  any  degree  of 
taint,  or  naufeous  fmell.' 
On  the  twelfth  of  the  eleventh  month, 
early  in  the  morning,  he  fpake  to  this 
purpofe ;  *  I  believe  I  muft  endeavour  to  go 
U  4  •  to 


296     THE  LIFE   AND  TRAVELS 

to  our  quarterly-meeting,  (which  began 
the  fourteenth)  although  as  to  bodily 
ftrength  I  am  very  weak.  There  my  mind 
is  remarkably,  fleeping  and  waking :  there 
I  hope  to  be  relieved  of  fome  things  which 
feem  to  remain  like  a  fire  in  my  bones.  I 
dare  not  forbear ;  I  know  it  is  the  way  for 
me  to  recover  my  ftrength  outwardly,  and  to 
be  eafed  of  that  which  is  a  heavy  burden 
inwardly :  I  fee  I  muft  go,  and  believe  I 
(hall  recruit,  and  gain  ftrength  every  day/ 
(Which  was  the  cafe  accordingly).  He  fur- 
ther faid,  '  My  mind  has,  for  feveral  days, 
been  attended  with  an  uncommon  fweet- 
nefs,  the  like  I  never  knew  for  fo  long 
together ;  with  a  fucceflion  of  foul-melt- 
ing profpedts.  I  have  freedom  to  relate 
what  I  had  a  fight  of  this  morning  before 
day,  as  I  lay  in  a  fweet  flumber;'  (which 
was  nearly  in  thefe  words,  viz)  '  I  thought 
I  faw  Noah's  ark  floating  on  the  deluge, 
or  flood,  with  Noah  and  his  family  in  it ; 
and,  looking  earneftly  at  it,  I  beheld  the 
window  of  the  ark,  and  faw  Noah  put  out 
the  dove,  and  I  beheld  her  flying  to  and 
fro  for  fome  time ;  but,  finding  no  reft 
for  the  foul  of  her  foot,  I  thought  me 
returned,  and  I  faw  Noah's  hand  put  forth 
to  take  her  in  again.  After  fome  time  I 
thought  I  beheld  her  put  forth  a  fecond 
time,  and  a  raven  with  her ;  the  dove  fled 
as  before  for  fome  time,  and  then  I  faw 
her  return  with  a  green  olive  leaf  in  her 

'  mouth, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    297 

*  mouth,  as  a  welcome  token  of  the  flood's 

*  being  abated :    I    thought  I  faw   alfo  the 
'  raven  fly,  cawking,   to  and  fro,  but  he  did 
f  not  return ;   and  it  came  into  my  mind, 

*  this   is  a  ravenous    bird,    and  fecks   only 

*  for  prey  to  fatisfy  its  own  ftcmach,  other- 

*  wife  he  might  have  returned  to  the  ark 
'  with  good  tidings,  or  fome  pleafant  token, 
'  as  well  as  the  dove.     Again,  after  a  fhort 
'  fpace,   I  thought  I  beheld  the  mountain 
'  tops,    and  fome  of  the  tree  tops,  begin- 
'  ning  to  appear  above  the  waters,  and  that 
'  I  could  perceive  the  flood  abate  very  faft ; 

*  and  as  the  waters  fell    away,    I  faw  the 
'  trees  began  to  bud,  and  a  gradual  green- 

*  nefs  of  new  leaves  came  upon  them ;  and 
'  J  heard   the  voice  of  the   turtle,  and  faw 
'  many  fymptoms  of  a  pleafant  and  happy 
'  feafon  approaching,  more  than  I  can  now 

*  relate :    and  the  profpecl  thereof  ravifhed 

*  my  foul.   I  beheld  the  trees  bloffoming,  the 
'  fragrant  vallies  adorned  with  grafs,  herbs, 
'  and  pretty  flowers,  and  the  pleafant  fl-reams 
'  guming  down  towards  the  ocean.     Indeed, 
'  all  nature  appeared  to  have  a  new  drefs  : 
'  the  birds  were  hopping  on  the  boughs  of 
'   the  trees,    and   chirping;    each,    in   their 
'  own   notes,    warbled   forth    the   praife  of 

*  their  Creator.     And  whilfl  I  beheld  thefe 
'  things,     a    faying    of    the    prophet    was 
'•  brought  frefh  in  my  memory,  and  appli- 

*  cable,    as  I   thought,  to  the  view  before 

*  me,  viz.   "  The  mountains  and  the  hills 

"  mall 


298      THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

"  fhall  break  forth  before  you  into  finging, 
"  and  all  the  trees  of  the  field  fhall  clap 
"  their  hands.  Inftead  of  the  thorn  fhall 
"  come  up  the  fir-tree,  and  inftead  of  the 
"  brier  fhall  come  up  the  myrtle-tree  :  and 
"  it  fhall  be  to  the  Lord  for  a  name,  for  an 
"  everlafting  fign,  that  fhall  not  be  cut  off." 
See  Ifaiah,  Iv.  12,  13. 

'  When  I  awoke,  the  profpe6t  remained 
'  clear  in  my  mind,  and  I  had  a  fweet  relifh, 
'  which  now  continues  with  me;  and  the 
'  application  of  the  vifion  feems  to  me  in 
'  this  manner :  the  flood  which  appeared  to 
'  cover  the  face  of  the  earth,  is  the  corrup- 

*  tion  and  darknefs   which   is  fo  prevalent 
«  over  the  hearts  of  mankind  -3  the  ark  re- 
'  prefents  a  place  of  fafe  (though  folitary) 
'  refuge,    wherein   the    Almighty   preferves 

*  his  humble  attentive  people,    who,    like 

*  Noah,   are  aiming  at   perfection   in    their 

*  generation.     The  dove  fets  forth   the  in- 

*  nocent,  harmlefs,   and  loving  difpofition, 
'  which  attends  the  followers  of  the  Lamb, 
'  who  are  always  willing  to  bring  good  ti- 
'  dings,  when   fuch  are   to   be    had.     The 

*  raven    reprefents    a    contrary    difpofition, 
'  which  reigns  in  the  hearts  of  the  children 
«  of  difobedience,  who  chiefly  aim  at  gra- 
'  tifying  their  own  fenfual  appetites.     The 

*  waters  gradually  abating,  the  trees  appear- 
'  ing,  and  afterwards  budding,  the  voice  of 

*  the  turtle,  and  the  pleafant  notes  of  the 
4  •  birds,  all  feem  clear  to  me,  to  prefage  the 

'  approach 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    299 

*  approach  of  that  glorious  morning,  where- 
'  in  corruption  and  iniquity  mall  begin  to 

*  abate,  and  be  fwept  away  :  and  then  every 
'  thing  (hall  appear  to  have  a  new  drefs.     I 
'  am  fully  confirmed  in  the  belief,  that  that 
'  feafon  will   approach,  which  was  foretold 
'  by  the  prophet,  wherein  the  glory  of  the 
'  Lord  mall  cover  the  earth,  as  the  waters 
'  cover   the   fea ;    and    in   a  fenfe  of  thefe 
'  things,  my  foul  is  overcome.     I  feel  the 
'  loving-kindnefs    of    the    Lord  Almighty, 
'  yet  waiting  for  the  return  of  backfliders 

*  with  unfpeakable  mercy ;  and  my  foul,  in 
'  a  fenfe  of  it,  feems  bound   ftronger  than 

*  ever,    in    the    bonds   of  a  gofpel  travail ; 

*  which  travail,  I  hope,  will  encreafe,  and 
'  fpread  amongft   the  faithful,  for  the  en- 
c  largement  of  the  church  •  that  the  nations 
'  may  flock  unto  Sion ;  which  mall  become 
'  an  eternal  excellency,  even  the  joy  of  the 

*  whole  earth.' 

Again  he  exprefled  his  having  a  profpedt 
of  the  morning,  and  faid,  «  The  day-ftar  is 

*  rifen,  which  prefages  the  approach  of  the 
'  morning:   I  have  feen  it  in  its  luftre,  and 

*  have    a  lively  fenfe  of  that  faying   being 
'  again   fulfilled   in   the  new  creation :   (fee 
'  Job    xxxviii.    7.)     "  The  morning  ftars 
"  fang    together,    and    the    fons    of   God 
*'  fhouted  for  joy."     '  I  have  heard  their 
'  found  intelligibly,  and  my  heart  is  com- 
'  forted   therein.       The    potmerds    of    the 
'  earth  may  clam  together  for  a  feafon ;  but 

«  the 


3oo     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

the  Lord  in  due  time  will  bring  about 
the  reformation.  The  predictions  of  arch- 
bimop  Uflier  (mentioned  in  the  preface 
to  Sewell's  Hiftory)  have  come  freili  in 
my  memory,  and  nearly  correfpond  with 
the  fenfe  I  have,  that  a  iharp  and  trying 
difpenfation  is  to  come  upon  the  profef- 
fors  of  Chriftianity ;  wherein  the  honeft 
and  upright-hearted  mall  be  hid,  as  under 
the  hollow  of  the  Lord's  hand ;  when 
rents,  diviiions,  and  commotions,  mall 
encreafe  among  the  earthly-minded,  and 
one  branch  of  a  family  be  at  flrife  with 
another,  like  the  daughter-in-law  againft 
the  mother-in-law,  &c.  and  happy  will 
it  be  for  thofe  who  endeavour  to  ftand 
ready  for  the  approach  of  fuch  a  difpen- 
fation/ 


CHAP. 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     301 

CHAP.     VII. 

His  vifit  to  the  quarterly-meeting  at  Salem, 
and  the  general  meetings  at  Uwchlan  and 
Go/hen,  in  1764. — His  attendance  of  the 
yearly -meeting  in  Philadelphia,  1767 — 
And  the  general  meeting  at  Cacil  in  Ma- 
ryland.— The  death  of  his  wife. — His  vijit 
to  divers  meetings  in  Chejler  and  Bucks 
Counties — To  the  yearly -meeting  in  Mary- 
land— Aljo  to  feveral  meetings  m  New- 
Jerfey — And  fome  others  in  Tork  County, 
Pennjyfoania — Alfo  to  Fairfax,  &c.  in 
Virginia. 

IN  the  fpring  of  the  year  1764,  I  ac- 
quainted my  friends  that  I  had  a  defire  to 
attend  the  quarterly-meeting  at  Salem,  in 
New- Jerfey ;  wherewith  having  their  con- 
currence, on  the  feventeenth  of  the  fifth 
month  I  left  home,  and  went  to  Wilming- 
ton 'y  and  next  day,  in  company  with  feveral 
friends,  from  thence  by  water,  to  our  friend 
Jofhua  Thompfon's,  at  the  mouth  of  Salem- 
Creek.  At  the  meeting  of  minifters  and 
elders  we  were  comforted  together,  through 
the  goodnefs  of  the  Lord.  On  firft  day 
there  was  a  large  gathering  of  a  mixed  mul- 
titude, and  quiet,  the  Divine  power  being 
felt,  and  gofpel  truths  preached;  by  the 
influence  of  the  love  whereof  many  hearts 
were  tendered :  though  I  thought  the  beauty 

and 


302     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

and  folemnity  of  the  meeting  was  a  little 
marred  by  an  appearance  that  was  continued 
too  long.  To  begin  in  the  life,  and  con- 
clude in  the  power  and  life,  is  becoming  a 
minifter  of  the  gofpel. 

On   fecond  day   morning  the  meeting  of 
minifters  and  elders  was  again  held ;  it  was 
a  precious   inftructive  feafon  in  the  love  of 
Chrift,  our  holy  Head,  by  which  the  hum- 
ble were  united.    Afterwards  we  had  a  large 
meeting  for  publick  worihip,  wherein   the 
teflimony  of  truth  flowed  freely  -,    the  call 
to  the  miniflry,  and  qualification  neceflary 
to  preach  the  gofpel,  being  clearly  fet  forth. 
In   humble   admiration    I  could   renewedly 
acknowledge,  '  Thou  art,  O  Lord !  ftrength 
in  our  weaknefs,  mouth  and  wifdom,  yea 
all  things,  to  thy  humble  depending  fer- 
vants,  whofe  truft  is  on  thee,  waiting  for 
thy  putting  forth  in  the  way,  and  gently 
going  before    them,    blefled   be   thy  holy 
name  for  ever!'     In  tranfacting  the  affairs 
of  the  difcipline  a  fpirit  of  brotherly  love 
prevailed.      The   youth's  meeting  at  Pilef- 
grove  was  alfo  large  and  edifying,  the  great 
Shepherd  of  Ifrael  being  pleafed  to  ftretch 
forth  the  crook  of  his  love,  for  gathering 
of  the  ftraying  youth   from   purfuing  after 
lying  vanities  and  worldly  pleafures  ;  minif- 
tering  reproof  to  hypocrites  and  formal  pro- 
feflbrs,    yet    comforting    his    children    and 
humble  dependent   followers,  to  the  praife 
of  his  own  eternal  name.     The  meeting  of 

minif- 


OF   JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    303 

miniilers  and  elders  fat  again  by  adjourn- 
ment, when  we  had  an  uniting  parting  fea- 
fon.  I  returned  to  my  friend  Jomua  Thomp- 
fon's,  next  day  to  a  meeting  at  Wilmington, 
and  in  the  evening  home,  being  thankful 
that  I  had  been  enabled  to  perform  this 
fmall  journey. 

After  which,  having  a  ftrong  defire  to 
attend  the  general  meetings  at  Goihen  and 
Uwchlan,  on  the  eighth  of  the  lixth  month 
my  dear  wife  and  I  left  home,  though  I  was- 
very  unwell  with  a  cold,  taken  in  my  return 
from  Salem,  and  a  fever  attending  me  every 
day.  We  attended  Uwchlan  meeting  on 
firft  day,  alfo  one  in  the  evening,  at  the 
houfe  of  our  brother,  Daniel  Brown;  which 
was  dull  and  exercifing,  from  a  fenfe  of 
the  prevalence  of  a  fpirit  which  leads  many 
into  forgetfulnefs  of  God,  after  the  vanities, 
love  and  pleafures  of  this  periming  world. 
Next  day  the  general  meeting  at  Gofhen  was 
very  large,  and  much  difturbed  by  the  go- 
ing out  and  coming  in  of  many,  but, 
through  Divine  goodnefs,  it  came  to  a  bet- 
ter fettlement  before  it  concluded;  when  fo- 
lid  friends,  in  a  degree  of  the  renewing  of 
the  Lord's  comforting  love,  were  refrefhed 
in  him  and  one  another ;  a  vifitation  being 
continued  to  the  youth,  the  praife  whereof 
belongs  to  the  great  Author  of  all  good ! 

The  general  meeting  at  Uwchlan  on  the 
day  following  was  alfo  large,  and  meafura- 
bly  attended  with  the  ownings  of  truth; 

under 


304     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

under  the  influence  of  which,  admonition 
and  counfel  flowed  freely  to  the  youth,  the 
Divine  witnefs  in  feveral  of  whom  was 
reached,  and  the  name  of  the  Lord  praifed, 
who  is  for  ever  worthy  ! 

In  thefe  large  meetings,  as  on  all  other 
fuch  occafions,  it  is  necetfary,  in  order  for  a 
proper  qualification  to  minifter  to  the  peo- 
ple, humbly  to  wait  to  know  the  inward 
life  and  baptizing  virtue  of  the  fpirit  and 
power  of  Jefus  Chrift,  our  all  in  all,  with- 
out whofe  help  we  can  never  do  his  work 
to  his  praife,  but,  inftead  of  gathering  the 
flock,  we  mail  minifter  to  their  fcattering 
from  the  true  place  of  feeding.  After  be- 
ing at  the  preparative  meeting  at  Eaft-Calne, 
and  a  meeting  at  Uwchlan,  we  returned 
home,  thankful  to  the  Lord,  who  had  mer- 
cifully fupported  us  in  this  fmall  journey ; 
both  of  us  being  weakly,  and  indifpofed  in 
health. 

In  the  ninth  month,  1767,  I  attended 
our  yearly-meeting  in  Philadelphia,  which 
held  a  week ;  all  the  fittings  whereof,  both 
for  worfhip  and  difcipline,  were,  through 
the  overfhadowing  of  Divine  favour,  inftruc- 
tive  to  the  humble  waiters ;  and  the  tefti- 
mony  of  truth,  particularly  againft  the  un- 
juft  and  unrighteous  practice  of  flave-keep- 
ing,  greatly  prevailed :  and  friends  were 
fully  cautioned  againft  bequeathing  by  will, 
as  flaves  to  their  pofterity,  the  poor  negroes, 
their  fellow-creatures;  it  being  an  unlawful 

aft 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     305 

ad  in  the  fight  of  the  great  and  righteous 
Parent  of  all  mankind.  This  meeting  con- 
cluded with  a  degree  of  awe  and  reverence, 
under  the  fweetening  influence  of  the  Fa- 
ther's love.  I  returned  home  to  our  gene- 
ral meeting  at  Nottingham,  which  was  held 
on  the  fourth  and  fifth  days  of  the  tenth 
month. 

After  which,  having  a  ftrong  defire  to 
attend  the  general  meeting  at  Caecil  in  Ma- 
ryland, I  fat  out,  in  company  with  feveral 
other  friends,  and  reached  the  firfl  fitting 
of  the  meeting,  which  was  fmall  and  dull. 
The  publick  meeting  next  day  was  very 
large,  and  attended  with  fome  fatisfaction  ; 
thofe  of  other  focicties  who  were  there 
were  moftly  pretty  quiet.  At  the  meeting  of 
minifters  and  elders  the  want  of  folid  elders 
being  evident,  the  con il deration  thereof  was 
propofed  to  the  quarterly-meeting,  which 
was  held  in  the  afternoon  of  the  fame  day ; 
when  it  was  recommended  to  the  monthly- 
meetings  to  obferve  the  directions  of  the 
yearly-meeting,  to  chufe  well  qualified  folid 
friends  for  that  weighty  ftation. 

The  meeting  for  publick  worfhip  was 
again  large,  being  attended  by  many  of  other 
focieties  -,  and  my  brother,  William  Brown, 
was  largely  opened  in  doctrine,  to  the  edifi- 
cation of  the  auditory :  after  which  I  had  a 
mort  teftimony,  tending  to  clofe  the  fore- 
going. In  the  meeting  for  difcipline  I  had 
occafion  to  lament,  that  there  were  too  few 
X  who 


306     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'who  feelingly  understood  the  weight  of  fuch 
meetings,  or  were  clean  handed  to  move 
therein,  either  to  their  own  profit,  or  the 
help  of  their  brethren ;  yet  there  are  a  few 
who  feem  to  be  under  a  preparation  for  the 
work,  and  I  hope  will  grow  in  their  gifts. 
On  third  day  morning  bufmefs  began  again, 
and  ended  full  as  well  as  I  expected.  I 
thought  the  Lord  was  mercifully  pleafed  to 
open  confiderable  inftruction  to  fuch  among 
them  who  had  ears  to  hear,  and  hearts 
difpofed  to  receive  it.  The  meeting  for 
worfhip  held  that  afternoon  was  not  fo  large 
as  on  the  other  two  days  -3  the  fervice  there- 
of lay  weightily  on  me,  and  I  had  a  full 
opportunity  to  relieve  my  mind  towards  the 
people,  in  opening  to  them  the  nature  and 
ground  of  fpiritual  worfhip  and  true  prayer, 
alfo  the  true  call  and  qualification  for  gofpei 
miniftry :  declaring  what  it  was  to  "  live  of 
"  the  gofpei,"  in  oppolition  to  a  forced 
maintenance :  truth  favoured,  and  the  peo- 
ple were  folid,  feveral  being  much  reached; 
the  meeting  ending  to  fatisfaction,  with  a 
fenfe  of  humble  thankfgiving  in  many  hearts 
to  the  Lord,  whofe  mercies  through  Chrift 
Jefus  are,  to  his  people,  yea  and  amen  for 
ever. 


His  wife  being  under  many  years  affliction 
with  a  cancer  on  her  head,  which  was  now 

fo 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    307 

fo  greatly  encreafed,  as  to  require  his  daily 
affectionate  attendance,  confined  him  moftly 
at  home  until  after  her  deceafe,  which  was 
on  the  feventh  month,  1770.  She  was  a 
fteady  exemplary  friend ;  concerning  whom 
the  monthly-meeting  of  Nottingham  give 
the  following  tefbimony : 

*  Our  friend  Margaret  Churchman  was 
born  (of  believing  parents,  William  and 
Either  Brown,  who  lived  at  Chichefter, 
in  the  county  of  Chefter,  in  Pennfylvania) 
the  thirteenth  of  the  firft  month,  1706-7 ; 
her  father  removing  with  his  family  into 
Maryland,  near  Sufquehanna,  died  before 
me  was  ten  years  old.  In  the  twenty- 
third  year  of  her  age,  me  entered  into  a 
marriage  ftate  with  John  Churchman,  of 
Nottingham,  and  being  religioufly  inclined 
from  her  childhood,  became  a  diligent 
feeker  after  that  bread  which  nourishes 
the  inward  man,  and  thereby  grew  in  re- 
ligion ;  and  about  the  thirty-fourth  year 
of  her  age,  it  pleafed  the  Lord  to  put  her 
forth  in  the  miniftry,  in  which  (he  was 
frequently  exercifed  to  the  comfort  and 
edification  of  the  churches  where  me  vi- 
lited,  in  this  and  the  fouthern  provinces ; 
being  delivered  in  -a  degree  of  life,  and 
gofpel  fweetnefs,  in  pertinent  expref- 
iions,  free  from  unbecoming  geftures.  She 
was  an  example  in  plainnels,  a  diligent 
attender  of  meetings,  and  an  humble 
X  2  '  waiter 


308     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  waiter  therein;  ferviceable  in  meetings  of 

*  bufinefs,  having  a  good  fenfe  of  difcipline, 

*  with  a  becoming  zeal  to  fupport  the  tef- 

*  timony  of  truth  in  its  various  branches ; 
'  and  ufeful  in  the  weighty  fervice  of  vifit*- 
'  ing  families. 

'  In  the  latter  part  of  her  life  me  was  for 
'  many  years  afflicted  with  a  cancer  on  her 
'  head,  which  me  bore  with  remarkable  pa- 
'  tience,  refignation,  and  innocent  chearful- 
'  nefs,  attending  meetings,  to  the  admira- 
'  tion  of  many  who  knew  her  difeafe; 
'  which,  not  withftan  ding  various  applica- 

*  tions,  fo  encreafed,  that  me   became  too 
'  weak  to  attend  meetings  fome  time  before 
'  her  deceafe ;  yet  me  retained  her  love  to 

*  truth  and  friends  to  the  laft ;  and  in  the 
'  fixty-fourth  year  of  her  age,  being  a  mi- 

*  niiler  about  thirty  years,  me  departed  this 
'  life,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  the  feventh 
'  month,  1770,  and  was  buried  on  the  thir- 

*  tieth,  in  friends  burying-ground  at  Eaft- 
'  Nottingham,  attended  by  many  friends  and 
'  neighbours,  at  which  time  we  had  a  folid 
'  fatisfa&ory  meeting. 

'  Given  forth  by  our  monthly- meeting  held 

*  at  Eail-Nottingham,  the  twenty-feventh 
'  of  the  feventh  month,  ijji>  and  figned 

*  on  behalf  thereof,  by 

'  SAMUEL  ENGLAND,  Ipj    t     , 
'  REBECCA  TRIMBLE,} 

Having 


OF   JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    309 

Having  an  inclination  to  attend  Chefter 
quarterly-meetings,  alfo  fome  meetings  with- 
in the  verge  thereof,  with  the  concurrence 
of  friends,  I  fat  out  on  the  firft  of  the  fe- 
cond  month,  1771,  attended  New-Garden 
monthly-meeting  next  day,  in  which  the 
love  of  our  merciful  Father  was  meafurably 
felt,  to  the  comfort  of  the  humble  in  heart; 
and  on  firft  day  at  Birmingham ;  on  the  next 
had  a  meeting  in  the  houfe  of  Richard 
Downing,  at  Miltown,  with  people  of  va- 
rious forts :  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  affift 
with  wifdom  and  ability,  in  meafure,  to  di- 
vide his  word  in  reproof,  counfel,  admoni- 
tion and  caution,  to  the  praife  of  his  own 
name.  On  third  day  at  Pikeland  was  a 
pretty  full  meeting,  though  a  very  cold  day: 
truth  was  felt  to  be  near  us.  A  profitable 
opportunity  was  had  alfo  in  the  family  of 
the  widow  Meredith;  me,  being  weakly, 
did  not  get  out  to  their  meeting.  Next  day 
had  a  cold  ride  to  Nantmell,  where  was  a 
large  full  meeting,  and,  I  believe,  beneficial 
to  many  prefent,  by  the  tendering  goodnefs 
of  the  blefTed  Shepherd  of  fpiritual  Ifrael ; 
the  crook  of  whofe  heavenly  love  is  fUH 
ftretched  forth  to  his  fheep,  who  are  not  yet 
acquainted  with  the  true  fold  of  reft,  and 
fafe  feeding-place:  his  own  works  praife 
him.  Uwchlan  monthly-meeting  on  the 
day  following  was  a  laborious  feafon,  yet, 
through  Divine  favour,  made  comfortable  to 
the  weary  travellers  -,  who  had  to  rejoice  to- 
X  3  gether 


3io     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

gether  in  "a  participation  of  the  confolation 
of  Ifrael,  and  therein  to  worfhip  his  name, 
who  is  worthy  for  ever.  Gofhen  monthly- 
meeting  was  alfo  laborious :  when  former 
experience  is  fed  upon,  or  the  love  or  ho- 
nour of  the  world  and  flefhly  eafe  takes 
place,  a  fpirit  grows  up  in  the  church  which 
cannot  judge  for  God  and  his  truth;  for 
the  judgment  is  his,  in  whofe  fear  his  chil- 
dren are  made  to  rejoice,  when  his  pre fence 
is  known,  and  his  humbling  goodnefs  ma- 
rt ifefted  to  his  people.  On  nril  day  I  was 
at  Middletown  meeting,  in  which  there 
feemed  to  be  a  tender  vifitation  and  call  to 
the  youth,  to  acquaint  themfelves  with  the 
God  of  their  fathers,  his  love  being  meafur- 
ably  witnefled  among  us.  The  quarterly- 
meeting  for  Chefler,  held  at  Concord,  was 
folid  and  edifying,  through  the  extending  of 
the  heavenly  Father's  love  to  the  children  of 
his  family.  From  thence  I  went  to  Wil- 
mington, vifited  fome  of  my  acquaintance, 
and  had  a  comfortable  fitting  in  the  family 
of  David  Ferrifs,  his  fon  Benjamin  being 
ill  of  a  confumption -,  I  alfo  attended  the 
monthly-meeting,  which,  though  a  fearch- 
Ing  time,  was  I  believe  to  the  c'pmfort  and 
edification  of  many :  the  uniting  love  of 
truth  being  experienced,  refted  on  friends 
in  the  time  of  the  bufmefs.  After  which  I 
went  to  the  monthly-meetings  at  Center 
and  Bradford,  and  from  thence  to  our  quar- 
terly-meeting at  London-Grove;  then  re- 
turned 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    311 

turned  home,  having  great  peace  in  per- 
forming this  journey,  and  being  favoured 
\vith  ability,  felt  a  degree  of  reverent  thank- 
fulnefs  to  the  Lord,  who  is  all  things  to 
his  fervants,  who  truly  abide,  in  nothingnefs 
of  felf ;  he  is  therefore  worthy  of  all  obe- 
dience and  honour  for  ever. 

On  the  twenty-firft  of  the  third  month  I 
left  my  habitation,  in  order  to  attend  our 
general  fpring-meeting  at  Philadelphia  >  in 
my  way  called  at  Wilmington,  and  was  at 
the  burial  of  Benjamin  Ferrifs  before-men- 
tioned. Our  fpring-meeting  was  to  me.  very 
comfortable,  in  a  fenfe  of  the  living  pre- 
fence  of  the  holy  Head  of  the  church,  in 
which  his  true  children  were  edified,  and 
ftrengthened,  and  mutually  comforted  one  in 
another ;  blefled  be  his  name  for  ever ! 

At  this  meeting  the  brethren,  both  mi^ 
nifters  and  elders,  apprehend,  it  their  duty, 
in  the  love  of  Chrift,  to  appoint  fuch  who 
,are  willing  to  give  up  their  names  to  attend 
the  feveral  large  or  general  meetings,  which 
come  in  courfe  in  the  enfuing  fummer  before 
our  yearly-meeting;  to  which  they  are  ex^ 
peeled  to  give  fome  account  of  the  meet- 
ings fo  attended  by  them :  and  feeling  a 
fmall  draught  in  my  mind  to  be  at  that 
at  Duck-Creek,  I  gave  in  my  name  to  at- 
tend it. 

On  my   return    from  Philadelphia   I  fat 

with  friends  at  their  week-day  meeting  in 

Wilmington,  which,  through  the  continued 

X  4  goodnefs 


THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

goodnefs  of  the  Lord,  was  in  fome  meafure 
a  profitable  feafon,  I  hope,  to  many.  Here 
I  felt  a  ftrong  defire  to  fee  the  friends  toge- 
ther who  are  owners  of  the  grift-mills  lately 
built  at  and  near  Brandywine,  and,  upon 
notice  thereof,  they  met  the  fame  afternoon, 
at  the  houfe  of  Daniel  Byrnes;  when  I  had 
an  opportunity  to  difcharge  my  mind  in  an 
afFedlionate  manner  of  what  had  imprefTed 
it  towards  them,  which  they  appeared  to 
receive  in  a  degree  of  the  fame  love  -,  and, 
as  I  believe  it  came  from  the  Author  of  all 
good,  who  is  alone  worthy  of  praife,  a 
bleffing  may  attend  that  opportunity,  if 
rightly  remembered. 

On  the  twenty- lixth  of  the  fourth  month, 
being  accompanied  by  a  friend  and  neigh- 
bour, I  went  to  Duck-Creek,  and  was  at  the 
monthly-meeting  there  the  next  day,  which 
was  heavy,  occalioned  by  the  prevalence  of 
a  formal,  lukewarm,  worldly  fpirit,  over 
many  of  the  profeflbrs  belonging  thereto, 
but,  through  the  long-fuffering  and  conti- 
nued mercy  of  God,  there  feemed  to  be  a 
renewed  awakening  vilitation  to  fome.  The 
meeting  on  firft  day  was  very  large,  the 
Lord  being  mercifully  pleafed  to  open  the 
ftates  and  conditions  of  many,  in  a  particu- 
lar inftrumental  manner,  and  in  a  meafure 
of  his  holy  heart-tendering  power,  which 
reached  the  witnefs,  divers  were  humbled, 
and  the  meeting  ended  with  thankfgiving, 

prayer 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     313 

prayer  and  praifcs  to  the  Lord,  who  is  wor- 
thy for  ever ! 

On  fecond  day  the  meeting  was  not  fo 
large,  occafioned  by  a  fair  being  near ;  ne- 
vertheleis,  it  was  a  feafon  .in  which  the 
doctrine  and  myfteries  of  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  were  largely  fet  forth  to  the  people, 
by  the  influence  of  the  Spirit,  and  in  the 
love  and  wifdom  of  the  holy  High  Prieft, 
who  is  all  in  all  to  his  people. 

We  had  alfo  three  felect  opportunities 
with  the  minifters  and  elders,  among  whom 
there  was  great  apparent  weaknefs ;  the  rea- 
fons  whereof  were  plainly  made  known  to 
them,  from  the  fenfe  given  in  the  love  and 
fear  of  him,  who  will  not  own  and  unite 
with  fuch  as  are  defiled;  which  plainnefs 
we  had  a  hope  would  be  profitable. 

Next  day  feveral  of  us  were  at  George's- 
Creek,  which  meeting  is  much  declined. 
Where  the  love  of  the  world,  and  its  allur- 
ing vanities,  prevail  on  the  profeflbrs  of 
truth,  their  affections  are  drawn  from  God, 
they  grow  flack  in  attending  meetings,  and 
are  a  bad  example  one  to  another.  It  was  a 
hard  meeting,  but,  through  the  love  of 
Chrift,  a  meafure  of  gofpel  anointing  enabled 
to  open  to  them  their  ftates,  in  great  love  and 
plainnefs,  which  feemed  to  afFeft  fome  par- 
ticulars; may  it  be  remembered  with  reve- 
rence before  him,  who  is  the  Author  of  all 
good,  and  praife-worthy  for  ever  ! 

Soon 


THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

Soon  after  my  return  home,  feeling  my 
mind  engaged  to  attend  the  quarterly-meet- 
ing  in    Bucks    County,  with   a  few    other 
meetings  in  Philadelphia  quarter,   I  fet'out 
on  the  twenty-lixth  of  the  fifth  month,  ac- 
companied by  Samuel  England,  and  on  the 
third  day  of  the  week  following  was  at  the 
Bank-meeting   in   Philadelphia,  which    was 
comfortable  -,  .on  fifth  day  at  the  quarterly- 
meeting   at  Buckingham,   and  next  day   at 
the    general    youth's   meeting,    which  was 
large,  and  divinely  favoured.     Then  vifiting 
feveral  indifpofed  friends,  on  firft  day  I  at- 
tended Plumilead  meeting,  and  in  that  week 
the  feveral   monthly-meetings  of  Bucking- 
ham, Wrightftown,  the  Falls,  and  Middle- 
town,  alfo  a  publick  meeting  at  Makefield; 
was   on  firfr.  day  at  Briflol,  from  whence  I 
went  with   my  friend  James   Thornton  to 
their  afternoon  meeting  at  Byberry;  had  an 
appointed  one  at  the  fame  place  next  day ; 
and  in  that  week  vifited  the  feveral  neigh- 
bouring meetings,  one  of  which  was  a  ge- 
neral youth's  meeting  at  Horfham,  large  and 
inftructive,  wherein  the  love  of  our  heavenly 
Father  was  felt  by  his  truly  depending  chil- 
dren.    Then  taking  meetings  at  Gwynedd, 
Providence,  Richland,  Oley,  Exeter,  Maiden 
Creek,  Reading,  and  on  firft  day  at  the  Fo- 
reft,  I  from   thence  rode  to  Uwchlan,  and 
on   fecond  day  had  a  meeting  at  Milltown, 
in  the  houfe  of  Robert  Valentine ;  then  pro- 
ceeded home,  having  rode  about  three  hun- 
dred 


OF    JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    315 

dred  and  feventy  miles  in  this  journey,  in 
which  I  was  favoured  with  my  health,  and 
held  travelling  beyond  my  expectation.  At 
the  gentle  drawings  of  truth  I  left  my  ha- 
bitation, having  little  profpect  of  much  be- 
fore me,  but  was  preferved  in  a  quiet  rc- 
iignation  to  the  Divine  will  to  do  whatfoever 
mould  appear  my  duty,  befeeching  the  Lord 
to  enable  me  to  watch  againfl  every  appear- 
ance of  felf  in  the  great  and  pure  work  of 
declaring  the  gofpel  to  the  people,  and  have 
great  caufe  to  be  humbly  thankful,  that  the 
Lord  was  pleafed  to  own  my  fervice  beyond 
expectation,  to  the  exaltation  of  his  own 
truth  -,  bleffed  be  his  name  for  ever  ! 

In  the  tenth  month  following  I  went  to 
the  yearly-meeting  at  Third-haven,  in  Ma- 
ryland :  the  meetings  for  worfhip  held  three 
days,  and  each  of  them  were  very  large,  and 
many  gofpel  truths  were  delivered  in  the 
love  and  power  thereof,  by  which  the  wit- 
nefs  of  God  was  reached  in  the  hearts  of 
many  of  the  people,  and  friends  comforted 
and  made  thankful  to  the  Lord,  that  he  was 
pleafed  to  own  us  with  the  overshadowing 
of  his  heavenly  love.  On  fourth  day  morn- 
ing the  affairs  of  the  difcipline  were*flnifli- 
ed,  when  we  had  a  parting  meeting,  which, 
through  Divine  favour,  was  a  precious  time 
to  many.  I  had  never  been  at  the  yearly- 
meeting  when  held  at  this  place  before,  and 
now  witnefled  my  heart  enlarged  in  the  love 
of  the  gofpel,  to  declare  the  fame  among 

the 


316    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

the  multitude  of  people  who  profefs  the 
Chriftian  name,  and  to  remind  them  of 
their  conduct  and  drefs;  how  different  it  wis 
from  that  of  thofe  who  formerly  fuffered 
martyrdom  for  their  religion,  as  now  pro- 
filed by  the  members  of  the  church  of 
England,  fo  called,  who  own  the  reformers 
as  their  predeceffors. 

Feeling  a  draught  of  love  in  my  mind  to- 
wards fome  meetings  at  New-Jerfey,  parti- 
cularly at  Egg-harbour,  having  the  concur- 
rence of  my  friends  at  home,  I  fet  out  on 
fecond  day,  the  firil  of  -the  fixth  month, 
1772,  and,  taking  in  my  way  a  meeting  at 
Haddonfield,  and  another  at  the  houfe  of 
my  friend  Thomas  Evans,  which,  through 
the  prefence  and  power  of  the  fearcher  of 
hearts,  was  made  profitable  to  fome  there 
prefent,  reached  Little  Egg- harbour  on  fe- 
venth  day,  and  the  next  attended  the  yearly- 
meeting;  in  which  the  love  of  the  gofpel 
was  felt  to  flow  towards  a  loofe,  raw,  unci- 
vilized people,  who  appeared  to  attend 
there  more  out  of  curiofity,  than  a  reverent 
thoughtful  nefs  of  wormipping  Almighty 
God.  la  the  afternoon  of  the  fame  day  the 
continuance  of  Divine  favour  was  remarkably 
evident  towards  the  inhabitants,  for  which 
the  Lord  made  the  hearts  of  his  fenfible 
children  thankful  to  himfelf,  who  is  the  Au- 
thor of  all  good.  The  meeting  on  fecond 
day  was  alfo  very  large,  in  which  the  true 
children  of  the  family  were  comforted  in 

Chrift 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    317 

Chrift  Jefus,  the  Lord  and  holy  Head  of 
the  church  -,  by  the  anointing  virtue  of 
whofe  precious  name  and  power,  they  were 
made  to  rejoice  in  the  company  one  of  ano- 
ther. Here  parting  with  many  valuable  be- 
loved friends,  I  went  over  the  bay,  to  the 
upper  meeting  on  Great  Egg-harbour  more, 
which  was  large,  coniidering  the  notice. 
Here  I  was  comforted  in  knowing  for  whole 
name  fake  I  was  made  willing  to  leave  my 
company,  and  turn  that  way;  the  Lord  be- 
ing pleafed  to  own  my  fervice  by  the  infpi- 
ration  of  a  degree  of  his  heavenly  wifdoin 
and  love,  to  fpeak  to  the  ftates  of  thofe 
that  were  prefent,  blelTed  be  his  name,  who 
is  worthy,  for  ever  !  I  went  home  with  my 
friend  Jofeph  Mapes  ;  next  day  attended  the 
lower  meeting,  which,  through  Divine  fa- 
vour, was  a  precious  feafon ;  then  palled 
over  to  the  Cape,  and  next  morning  was  at 
a  meeting  at  the  upper  houfe,  where  many 
not  of  our  fociety  attended,  to  whom  the 
doctrine  of  the  gofpel  flowed,  in  defcribing 
the  nature  of  pure  -and  undented  religion, 
and  wherein  it  confifted:  the  people  were 
ftill  and  quiet.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  fame 
day  I  had  a  meeting  at  the  lower  houfe, 
which  is  called  eight  miles  down  the  Cape : 
this  was  an  heart- tendering  time,  for  which 
friends  were  made  truly  thankful.  I  thought 
it  feemed  like  to  be  my  laft  vilit  to  thefe 
parts.  From  thence  I  went  to  Cohan fy, 
forty-five  miles,  to  Mark  Reeve's,  where  I 
'  retted 


3i8     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

efted  the  next  day,  being  very  weary,  and 
almoft  overcome  with  hard  travelling;  on 
firft  day  I  was  at  Greenwich  meeting,  and  in 
the  afternoon  at  Alloways  Creek,  which  was 
very  large ;  many  of  other  focieties  attend- 
ing, the  doftrine  of  truth  flowed  to  them 
in  a  meafure  of  the  love  thereof.  Next  day 
the  meeting  at  Salem  was  held  in  the  Court- 
houfe,  the  meeting-houfe  being  taken  down, 
and  a  new  one  building.  On  third  day  I 
was  at  the  upper  meeting  near  Alloways 
Creek,  which,  through  Divine  goodnefs, 
was  an  inftructive  time  to  fome  feekers :  the 
pafTage  treated  upon  was  our  Lord's  defcrip- 
tion  of  the  pharifee  and  publican  who  went 
up  to  the  temple  to  pray ;  the  great  differ- 
ence in  the  form  of  their  addrefTes  was 
opened  in  a  clear  manner,  by  the  fpirit  of 
him  who  gave  forth  that  parable,  to  my 
humble  admiration,  which  was  caufe  of  re- 
verent thankfulnefs  ;  they  who  were  fenfible 
being  encouraged,  and  the  conceited  formal - 
ifts  rebuked. 

From  hence  I  went  to  John  Davis's,  had 
a  comfortable  opportunity  with  fome  indif- 
pofed  friends  in  his  family;  then  taking 
meetings  at  Pilefgrove,  Upper  Greenwich, 
and  Woodberry,  was  on  firft  day  morning  at 
Haddonfield,  and  in  the  afternoon  at  New- 
town,  which  laft  was  laborious,  though  I 
believe,  being  blefled  to  feveral  prefent,  was 
thereby  made  profitable.  That  evening  I 
went  over  to  Philadelphia,  weary  in  body, 

but 


*-,.,^OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.      319 

but  chearful  in  mind,  being  fenfible  of  a 
degree  of  thankfulnefs  for  the  continued 
favour  of  my  Lord  and  Matter,  who  had 
been  to  me  a  quiet  habitation  and  fecret  fup- 
port  in  this  journey.  After  fraying  two  days, 
and  on  each  attending  meetings  in  the  city, 
I  took  Wilmington-meeting  on  my  way 
home ;  having  travelled  about  three  hundred 
and  fifty  miles,  attended  about  twenty  meet- 
ings, befides  having  feveral  comfortable  op- 
portunities in  families. 

Being  under  an  appointment  with  other 
friends  of  our  quarterly-meeting,  to  vifit 
friends  of  the  monthly-meetings  of  War- 
rington  and  Fairfax,  I  fet  out  on  the  feventh 
of  the  tenth  month,  and,  taking  a  meeting 
with  friends  in  York-town,  we  were  at 
Warrington  on  firft  day ;  then  vifited  the 
feveral  meetings  of  Newberry,  Huntingdon, 
and  Monallen,  in  which  truth  owned  our 
fervice  in  a  good  degree :  our  labour  of  love 
appearing  to  be  kindly  received,  I  hope  may 
be  ufeful.  On  the  firfl  day  following  five 
of  us  were  at  Pipe  Creek  meeting,  then  at 
Bum  Creek,  Monaquefy,  Fairfax,  Goofe 
Creek,  and  Southfork,  wherein  the  Lord 
was  pleafed,  in  his  wonted  goodnefs  and 
mercy,  to  magnify  his  own  name,  who  is 
praife- worthy  for  ever  ! 

After  a  feafonable  opportunity  with  friends, 
held  in  the  houfe  of  Abel  Janny,  at  parting 
with  them,  we  returned  to  Fairfax  meeting 
en  firil  day,  where,  under  the  influence  of 

the 


320    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

the  Divine  prefence,  the  teftimony  and  doc- 
trine of  truth  flowed  freely  to  the  people ; 
in  an  humble  fenfe  whereof,  praifcs  alcended 
to  his  holy  name,  who  is  over  all,  worthy 
for  ever ! 

Several  of  our  company  now  returning 
homewards,  three  of  us  not  being  eafy  yet 
to  return,  two  of  us  went  to  vifit  a  friend 
who  lay  in  a  languilhing  condition,  which 
I  believe  was  ferviceable,  the  love  of  our 
heavenly  Father  being  in  fome  degree  feJt 
among  us.  On  third  day  we  had  a  meeting 
at  the  Gap  (fo  called)  among  a  raw  people, 
where  Divine  goodnefs  meafurably  favoured 
the  opportunity;  on  the  day  following  we 
attended  Fairfax  preparative  meeting;  the 
two  next  days  we  vifited  fome  rick  friends, 
and  on  feventh  day  were  at  the  monthly- 
meeting,  which  was  in  the  main  fatisfadory. 
On  firft  day  the  meeting  was  thought  to  be 
the  largeft  ever  held  at  this  place,  and  the 
gofpel  being  preached  in  the  love  of  it,  to 
the  tendering  the  hearts  of  many,  the  meet- 
ing ended  in  humble  thankfgiving  to  the 
holy  Author  of  all  good.  Next  day,  in 
company  with  feveral  friends  of  Fairfax,  I 
attended  a  meeting  at  Monaquefy,  where 
fome  came  who  did  not  make  religious  pro- 
feflion  with  us;  which  was  an  inftruftive 
tendering  feafon,  through  the  Lord's  good- 
nefs. After  a  meeting  at  Bum  Creek,  and 
another  at  Pipe  Creek,  I  travelled  to  Gun- 
powder, and  attended  the  quarterly-meeting 

for 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     321 

for  the  Weftern  fhore  of  Maryland,  likewife 
the  general  meeting  for  worflup  on  firft  day, 
at  which  were  feveral  not  of  our  fociety, 
whofe  hearts  were  reached  by  the  love  of 
truth.  Next  day  I  had  a  meeting  at  the 
Little  Falls,  and  from  thence  returned  home, 
whence,  after  flaying  three  days,  I  went  to 
our  quarterly-meeting  at  London- Grove,  the 
two  laft  days  of  which  afforded  fome  com- 
fort and  fatisfadtion.  On  the  fourteenth 
of  the  twelfth  month  I  went  to  Wilming- 
ton, on  which  day  Margaret,  the  wife  of 
John  Perry,  was  buried,  after  a  fhort  illnefs; 
I  fpent  part  of  the  evening  in  his  afHi&ed 
family  to  fatisfaction  :  flaying  in  the  town 
two  days,  I  attended  their  monthly-meet- 
ings, and  thought  there  was  a  want  of  more 
members  deeply  baptized  for  the  work, 
which  appears  necefTary  in  the  church  at 
that  place.  At  this  time  Deborah,  the 
daughter  of  David  Ferrifs,  being  in  a  con- 
fumptive  declining  flate,  and  wafting  fafl,  I 
vifited  her  to  my  fatisfadion  j  me,  appearing 
to  be  in  a  refigned  humble  frame  of  fpirit, 
was  an  exemplary  young  woman,  whom  I 
efteemed.  Then  going  to  Center  and  Hock- 
efTon  meetings,  I  was  at  New-Garden  on 
firft  day,  which  I  thought,  through  Divine 
favour,  an  inftructive  profitable  meeting  to 
myfelf,  and  perhaps  to  fome  others :  the 
fubjed:  which  opened  was  the  neceflity  of 
not  leaning  to,  or  following,  any  man,  but 
of  attending  to  the  pure  motion  and  fecret 
Y  influ- 


322     THE  LIFE   AND  TRAVELS 

influence  of  the  Spirit  of  Truth  manifested 
in  the  heart,  in  the  meeknefs  and  purity  of 
the  wifdom  from  above;  it  was  that  by 
which  the  churches  were  gathered,  and  the . 
members  preferved  in  the  unity  of  the  one 
hie/Ted  Spirit,  and  perfect  bond  of  peace  and 
good  order. 

I  next  attended  our  preparative  and  month- 
ly-meetings, after  which  was  confined  moftly 
at  home  for  about  a  month  by  a  fever, 
during  which  time  my  mind  was  often  much 
humbled  under  a  fenfe  of  the  prevalence  of 
a  dull,  lukewarm  fpirit,  as  to  the  life  and 
power  of  truth ;  earthly-mindednefs,  and 
the  cares  and  cumbers,  concerning  the  things 
of  this  prefent  life,  having  drawn  the  minds 
of  many  into  death.  I  never  more  clearly 
faw  the  neceflity  there  was  for  us,  who  pro- 
fefs  the  truth,  fingly  to  attend  to  the  gentle 
inftruclions  of  the  holy  Spirit  thereof,  which 
only  doth,  and  ever  will,  lead  and  guide 
into  all  truth,  and  preferveth  from  thofe 
errors  and  failings  which  are  fo  abundantly 
evident  among  us,  whereby  our  hands  are 
weakened  in  refpecT:  to  a  careful  exercife  of 
the  difcipline  of  the  church. 


CHAP. 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     323 

CHAP.     VIII. 

His  attendance  of  the  Wejlern  quarterly-meet- 
ing in  the  fecond  month,  1773 — The  fpring- 
meeting  in  Philadelphia — And  the  genera 
meeting  at  Duck-Creek — The  quarterly, 
meeting  at  Shrewjbury — With  federal  other 
meetings  in  New-Jerfey — The  fpring-meet- 
ing  in  Philadelphia  in  1774. — His  la  ft  vifit 
to  New-Tork — And  Long-IJland. — His  lajl 
attendance  of  the  yearly -meeting  in  Phila- 
delphia.— His  being  at  the  firing-meeting 
there  in  1775. — And  his  lajl  journey  to 
fun  dry  meetings  on  the  E,  after  n-Jhore  of  Ma- 
ryland.— His  laft  illnefs,  with  fame  weighty 
exprejfions  in  that  time. — His  death  and 
burial. 

BEING  fomewhat  recovered  of  my  in- 
difpoiition  of  body,  I  fat  in  our  feledt 
meeting  of  miniflers  and  elders  on  the  firft 
of  the  fecond  month,  1773,  in  which  I  was 
comforted  under  a  fenfe  of  our  being  owned 
in  fome  degree  by  the  vifitation  of  Divine 
love ;  and  afterwards  attended  our  quarter- 
ly-meeting at  London-Grove,  each  fitting 
whereof  was  favoured  with  a  continuance 
of  heavenly  help,  to  the  encouragement  of 
the  humble  waiters.  I  returned  home  with 
thankfulnefs  in  my  mind  to  the  Lord,  who 
had  furnimed  me  with  flrength  in  my  weak 
flate  to  fit  with  my  friends,  in  which  we 
Y  2  ought 


324    THE  LIFE  AXD  TRAVELS 

ought  to  be  good  examples.  I  attended  our 
own  meeting  on  the  fifth  and  firft  days  fol- 
lowing, and  in  the  fame  week  went  to  Wil- 
mington, to  the  burial  of  Deborah  Ferrifs, 
before-mentioned;  after  which,  a  iblid  and 
profitable  meeting  was  held. 

On  the  twenty-fixth  of  the  third  month 
I  fet  out  from  home,  in  order  to  attend  our 
general  fpring-meeting  at  Philadelphia,  but 
did  not  get  there  in  time  for  the  firft  fit- 
ting thereof;  fuch  of  them  as  I  did  attend, 
I  thought,  were,  in  the  main,  times  of  Di- 
vine favour.  On  my  return  homeward  I 
was  at  a  fmall  meeting  at  Chefter,  allb  the 
general  meeting  at  Wilmington,  and  foon 
after  at  the  general  meeting  at  Duck  Creek, 
and  their  monthly-meeting  preceding  it.  The 
meeting  there  on  firft  day  was  large,  and, 
though  a  mixed  multitude  attended,  it  was 
folid,  through  the  overshadowing  of  hea- 
venly power ;  the  Lord  was  pleafed  to  open 
the  myfteries  of  the  kingdom,  influencing 
my  heart  to  preach  the  gofpel  in  the  love 
thereof,  to  my  humble  admiration,  and 
many  were  tendered;  for  which  renewed  vi- 
fitation  and  favour,  a  facrifice  of  thankfgiv- 
ing  afcended  from  the  hearts  of  his  children, 
to  the  all  powerful  and  merciful  God,  who 
is  worthy  for  ever.  The  meeting  on  fecond 
day  was  a  time  of  confolation  to  the  heavy- 
hearted,  inftruftion  to  the  humble  feekers, 
and  a  feafon  of  ftrengthening  to  the  weak, 
blefled  be  the  name  of  the  Lord,  for  his 

mercies 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    325 

mercies   endure   for   ever.      I  was   next   at 
George's  Creek  meeting,  in  which  friends 
were  encouraged,    and  in   fome  degree  re- 
frefhed,  divers  not  of  our  fociety  attending : 
the  doctrine  of  perfonal  election  and  repro- 
bation, as  held  by  fome,  was  refuted,  and 
it  was  clearly  pointed  out  wherein  the  elec- 
tion ftood,  viz.  '  in  Chrift  the  feed,  which 
cleaved  unto,  and  chofen  by  man,  for  his 
true  inftructor  and  leader,  by  his  light  and 
witnefs  in   the    heart,    as    a  reprover  for 
fin,    and   fo    followed  and    obeyed,    man 
comes  to  know  himfelf  elected  in  him.' 
I   went   home  with  George  Ford  to  Back 
Creek,  and  had  an  opportunity  in  his  family, 
I  hope  to  fome  profit. 

Towards  the  fall  of  the  year  I  had  a 
draught  in  my  mind  to  attend  fome  meet- 
ings in  the  Jerfeys,  particularly  the  quar- 
terly-meeting at  Shrewfbury;  of  which  hav- 
ing acquainted  my  brethren  at  home,  and 
had  their  concurrence,  after  attending  our 
yearly-meeting  in  Philadelphia,  and  return- 
ing from  thence,  I  fet  out,  in  company 
with  my  friend  Samuel  England,  on  the 
twelfth  of  the  tenth  month,  but  was  de- 
tained at  Philadelphia  by  a  fever,  which 
held  me  feveral  days ;  yet  I  fo  far  recovered, 
as  to  proceed  on  our  journey,  taking  on  our 
way  meetings  at  Mount  Holly,  at  a  fchool- 
houfe,  near Shreve's  Mount,  in  Upper  Spring- 
field ;  in  which  I  had  a  concern  to  warn  the 
youth  to  beware  of  deifm,  and  to  (hew  the 
Y  3  ground 


326     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

ground  and  caufe  of  falling  into  that  error ; 
alfo  at  Upper  Freehold,  and  in  a  friend's 
houfe,  near  that  called  Robbins's  meeting. 
There  feems  to  be  a  vifitation  to  the  youth 
in  that  place,  to  which  if  they  are  faithful, 
that  meeting  may  again  encreafe.  We  reached 
the  meeting  of  miniflers  and  elders  at 
Shrewfbury,  in  which  truth  owned  the  lo- 
vers thereof.  The  publick  meetings  on  the 
three  following  days  were  large,  and  thought 
to  be  the  moft  quiet  and  fatisfactory  which 
had  been  known  of  late  years  there;  the 
affairs  of  the  difcipline  were,  as  I  thought, 
pretty  well  conducted.  Finding  myfelf  not 
clear  of  the  members  of  our  fociety  at  this 
place,  I  therefore  propofed  to  feveral  friends 
that  they  would  favour  me  fo  much  as  to 
meet  on  their  week-day  meeting  day,  which 
I  underltood  they  ufually  had  omitted  in  this 
week,  requeuing  that  they  would  acquaint 
their  members  with  my  defire  of  feeing 
them,  their  children,  and  families,  together : 
I  therefore  waited  until  fifth  day,  when  they 
generally  met,  which  gave  me  an  opportu- 
nity comfortably  to  clear  myfelf  towards 
friends  here,  to  the  encouragement  of  the 
fmcere ;  being  led  to  mew  the  active  mem- 
bers the  caufe  of  dwarfifhnefs,  the  love  of 
the  world,  and  its  friendfhips,  choaking  the 
good  feed,  which  mould  grow  and  bear  rule: 
I  was  thankful  for  this  opportunity,  and  left 
them  with  the  enjoyment  of  a  quiet  mind. 
Frojn  hence  we  palled  to  Rahway,  had  a 

meeting 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     327 

meeting  at  Woodbridge,  and  another  at 
Plainfield,  in  both  which  truth  owned  my 
fervice  :  I  thought  there  was  a  tender  vifita- 
tion  renewed  to  friends  in  thofe  parts,  in 
the  fenfe  whereof  I  was  made  thankful,  and 
that  I  had  been  favoured  with  ftrength  to 
pay  them  a  vilit  in  the  love  of  my  great 
and  good  Mafter  j  may  I  ever  walk  anfwera- 
ble  to  his  manifold  favours,  who  is  praife- 
worthy  for  ever  !  We  were  next  at  Stony- 
brook  meeting,  which  was  made  precious 
in  the  renewing  of  Divine  favour,  and  then 
at  Trenton,  with  a  people  who  have  much 
loft  the  life  and  favour  of  truth.  From 
thence  going  to  Byberry  and  Philadelphia, 
I  reached  the  quarterly- meeting  at  Concord, 
which  began  on  the  fixth  of  the  eleventh 
month  ;  the  next  day  I  went  to  Chichefter, 
where  I  was  enabled  to  fpeak  to  the  ftates 
of  the  people  in  the  love  of  truth;  which 
may  be  ufeful  if  remembered  in  a  right  man- 
ner, and  returned  to  the  quarterly-meeting 
on  fecond  day,  which  was  comfortable,  the 
Divine  prefence  being  felt :  our  friend  Eli- 
zabeth Robinfon  was  there,  and  had  good 
fervice.  On  third  day  I  attended  the  gene- 
ral meeting  at  Chefter,  which  was  poor  and 
dull ;  the  expectations  of  the  people  being 
too  much  outward,  they  were  difappointed  : 
then  attending  the  monthly-meeting  at  Wil- 
mington, tarried  their  meeting  the  next 
day,  and  proceeded  to  our  quarterly-meeting 
at  London- Grove,  at  which  we  had  the 
Y  4  company 


328     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

company  of  our  friends  Robert  Walker, 
Elizabeth  Robinfon,  and  Mary  Leaver,  from 
Great  Britain  :  it  was  a  feafon  of  refrefh- 
ment  and  comfort  to  many  friends ;  I  then 
went  home,  having  travelled  in  this  journey 
about  three  hundred  and  fixty  miles. 

In  the  third  month,  1774,  I  attended  our 
general  fpring-meeting  in  Philadelphia,  the 
divers  fittings  whereof  were  divinely  fa- 
voured ;  and,  after  it,  the  general  meeting 
at  Wilmington,  which  was  held  chiefly  in 
lilence,  and  on  that  account  remarkable. 

Having  an  engagement  on  my  mind  for 
fome  time  to  vilit  our  friends  on  Long-Ifland, 
with  fome  adjacent  meetings,  I  laid  it  before 
my  brethren,  who  gave  me  their  certificate 
for  that  purpofe;  and  on  the  third  of  the 
fifth  month  I  fet  out  on  the  journey,  hav- 
ing the  company  of  a  friend  from  Wilming- 
ton :  taking  a  meeting  at  Philadelphia,  we 
reached  New-York,  attended  their  morning 
and  afternoon  meetings  on  firft  day,  and  had 
an  opportunity  with  divers  friends  in  the 
evening,  which  was  (to  me  at  leaft)  inftruc- 
tive,  and  I  believe,  through  Divine  good- 
nefs,  profitable  to  fome  others.  We  then 
had  meetings  at  Weft-Chefter,  Mamaroneck, 
and  the  Purchafe,  the  laft  being  a  monthly- 
meeting  :  thefe  opportunities  were  clofe  and 
fearching,  the  teftimony  of  truth  was  en- 
couraging to  the  well-minded,  but  very 
fharp  to  the  formalifts,  and  my  mind  was 
made  thankful  for  the  bleffing  of  peace  in 

the 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     329 

the  difcharge  of  my  duty.  We  next  at- 
tended meetings  at  Flufhing,  on  Long-Ifland, 
Cowneck,  Weftbury,  Matinicock,  Sequi- 
togue,  and  Bethpage,  then  at  Newtown,  the 
monthly-meeting  at  Weftbury,  and  the  quar- 
terly-meeting at  Pluming,  where  the  year- 
ly-meeting began  the  next  day,  which  held 
four  days ;  and,  on  the  whole,  I  believe  it 
may  be  faid,  that  the  authority  of  truth  was 
in  fome  good  degree  felt  to  keep  down  for- 
ward fpirits,  both  in  the  miniftry  and  dif- 
cipline ;  which  was  caufe  of  thankfulnefs  to 
the  Lord,  who  rules  among  his  children, 
and  is  worthy  of  all  praife  for  ever.  Here 
I  had  the  company  of  our  dear  friends  Ro- 
bert Walker,  Elizabeth  Robinfon,  and  Su- 
fanna  Lightfoot,  who  intending  for  Rhode  - 
liland,  I  parted  with  them,  and  went  to  the 
monthly -meeting  at  New -York,  which, 
through  merciful  regard,  was  comfortable. 
From  thence  going  to  Rahway,  had  a  meet- 
ing at  Plainfield,  which  was  fatisfadlory, 
through  the  extendings  of  Divine  favour ; 
then  at  Kingwood  on  firft  day,  from  whence 
croffing  Delaware,  we  were  at  Buckingham 
monthly- meeting,  where  I  thought  the  true 
fpirit  of  difcipline  appeared  to  be  much 
wanting  in  many.  Here  my  companion  re- 
turned homewards.  The  next  day  I  was  at 
Wright's -town  monthly -meeting,  which, 
through  the  Lord's  bleffmg,  was  edifying  to 
many,  and  we  parted  in  peace  and  fweetncfs 
of  fpirit;  the  day  following  I  attended  the 

meeting 


330     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

meeting  at  Pine-ftreet  in  Philadelphia,  alfo 
that  at  High-ftreet  on  fifth  day,  which  was 
a  precious  opportunity  to  fuch  who  loved  to 
live  near  the  Spirit  of  Truth.  From  thence 
I  went  to  vifit  my  brother-in-law,  Daniel 
Brown,  near  Chefler;  was  at  New-town 
meeting  on  firft  day,  and  at  an  afternoon 
meeting  near  Amos  Yarnal's ;  then  went  to 
the  general  meetings  at  Gofhen  and  Uwch- 
lan :  after  which,  taking  London -Grove 
meeting,  I  came  home,  having  rode  in  this 
journey  about  fix  hundred  miles,  and  feeling 
a  degree  of  thankfulnefs  that  the  Lord  was 
pleafed  to  give  me  ability  to  perform  it. 

I  tarried  much  at  home  the  remaining 
part  of  this  fummer ;  on  the  twenty-firft  of 
the  ninth  month  I  fet  out,  in  order  to  at- 
tend the  yearly-meeting  at  Philadelphia, 
which  was  very  large  in  the  feveral  fittings, 
continued  a  full  week,  and  I  thought  it  the 
moft  folid  and  weighty  in  tranfa&ing  the 
affairs  of  truth  that  I  ever  knew  :  the  tefli- 
mony  thereof  againft  flave-keeping  was  won- 
derfully exalted,  through  the  power  and 
love  of  God,  who  is  worthy  of  all  praife 
forever.  In  my  way  home  I  was  at  Pro- 
vidence meeting,  in  which  the  testimony  of 
truth  went  forth  by  way  of  warning  to  the 
lukewarm  and  declining  profeflbrs,  and  of 
encouragement  to  the  youth. 

Our  general  meeting  at  Nottingham  next 
day  was  large,  and  I  hope  profitable  to  fome; 
after  which,  having  a  defire  to  be  at  the 

general 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     331 

general  meeting  at  C«cil,  in  Maryland,  I 
left  home  on  the  feventh  of  the  tenth  month, 
was  at  the  quarterly-meeting  of  minifters 
and  elders  there  on  firft  day  morning,  which 
was  profitably  inftruclive,  through  Divine 
goodnefs  :  two  publick  meetings  for  wor- 
fhip  were  held  on  firft  and  fecond  days, 
both  large  and  folid;  feveral  other  friends 
from  Pennfylvania  were  there.  The  bufiv. 
nefs  of  the  quarterly-meeting  ended  on  third 
day  morning;  on  the  fame  day  we  had  a 
comfortable  publick  meeting,  from  which 
we  parted  with  friends  in  much  love  and 
nearnefs.  On  the  following  day  was  their 
monthly-meeting,  to  attend  which  feveral 
of  us  ftaid ;  then,  having  a  defire  to  fee 
friends  at  Chefter-River,  I  went  to  their 
week-day  meeting,  Nicholas  Wain  bearing 
me  company;  the  meeting  was  large,  and, 
through  the  Lord's  goodnefs,  it  was,  I  be- 
lieve, made  profitable  to  many.  Then  tak- 
ing meetings  at  Saflafrafs,  Duck-Creek,  Mo- 
therkill,  and  Little-Creek,  the  two  laft  be- 
ing their  preparative'  meeting  at  each  place  ; 
the  next  day  was  their  felec~l  meeting  of 
minifters  and  elders,  and  their  monthly- 
meeting  the  day  following;  which,  with  di- 
vers other  friends  from  Pennfylvania,  we 
attended,  and  on  the  firft  and  fecond  days 
of  the  next  week  the  general  meeting  at 
Little- Creek :  I  believe  there  is  a  renewed 
vifitation  to  friends,  and  fome  others,  here- 
away; but  formal  profclibrs  at  prefent  ap- 
pear 


332     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

pear  to  be  as  ftumbling-blocks,  by  joining 
with  the  fpirit  of  the  world.  I  returned 
home  with  an  eafy  mind. 


Weaknefs  and  infirmity  of  body  gradually 
increafmg  upon  our  beloved  friend,  he  fre- 
quently mentioned,  that  many  years  part  it 
was  unexpected  to  him  to  live  to  his  feven- 
tieth  year,  and  to  be  favoured  with  health 
and  flrength  fufficient  to  travel  fo  much  as 
he  lately  had ;  faying,  that  now  he  fcarcely 
thought  much  more  would  be  required  of 
him :  he  however  attended  the  weftern  quar- 
terly-meeting in  the  eleventh  month  this 
year,  and  in  the  fecond  month,  1775,  in 
both  which  he  was  favoured  with  ftrength 
and  clearnefs  to  fpeak  to  the  flate  of  the 
church,  as  well  in  fome  of  the  felecl:,  as  the 
more  publick  meetings,  tending  to  the  edi- 
fication and  comfort  of  many. 

In  the  third  month,  1775,  he  alfo  attended 
the  general  fpring  meeting  at  Philadelphia, 
and  in  fome  of  the  fittings  thereof  was 
much  favoured  5  on  his  return  home  from 
thence  he  was  at  Wilmington  general  meet- 
ing, in  company  with  our  friends  Robert 
Walker  and  Elizabeth  Robinfon,  from  Great 
Britain. 

His  laft  journey  was  on  a  vifit  to  moft  of 
the  meetings  on  the  Eaftern-fhore  of  Mary- 
land, 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    333 

land,  and  to  attend  the  yearly-meeting  at 
Third-haven,  in  Talbot  county ;  for  which 
purpofe  he  fet  out  from  his  own  habitation 
on  the  twenty-fecond  of  the  fifth  month, 
having,  according  to  his  ufual  care,  obtained 
the  concurrence  of  his  brethren,  and  was 
accompanied  by  a  young  man  (William  Jack- 
fon)  a  member  of  New-Garden  monthly- 
meeting,  who  has  given  the  following  ac- 
count of  this  journey. 

'  Our  firft  day's  ride  was  to  George  Ford's, 
'  near  Back-Creek;  the  next  morning  being 
'  damp  and  foggy,  was  very  trying  to  his 
*  weak  conftitution,  yet  we  rode  forty-five 
miles  that  day,  to  Hannah  Turner's,  in 
Queen  Ann's  county,  which  was  thought 
to  be  a  means  of  bringing  on  him  a  difor- 
der,  which  proved  painful  and  airlifting, 
and  encreafed  till  near  his  end.  Being  ad- 
vanced in  age,  his  bodily  infirmity  ap- 
peared great;  but  the  fervency  of  his  mind 
for  the  promotion  of  truth  and  righteouf- 
nefs,  and  his  care  as  a  father  in  Ifrael,  was 
truly  as  prevalent  as  ever.  On  the  twen- 
ty-fourth of  the  month  he  went  to  the 
preparative  meeting  at  Tuckahoa,  where- 
in he  was  concerned  to  exhort  fome  to 
faithfulnefs  in  times  of  temptation  and 
trial,  that  they  might  experience  an  over- 
coming, and  be  enabled  to  flrengthen 
their  brethren.  Next  day  we  attended 
Third-haven  monthly-meeting,  in  which 
he  was  qualified  to  fpeak  inftruftively  to 

'  the 


334    THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  the  members  thereof,  particularly  to  fuch 
'  who  were  incumbered  with  much  care 
'  about  the  things  of  this  life;  things  which, 
'  although  lawful  in  themielves,  yet,  when 
'  fuffered  to  engrofs  the  minds  and  affec- 

*  tions  of  people,  obftrucl:  a  progrefs  in  re- 
'  ligion.     On  the  twenty-fixth  a  meeting  at 

*  Choptank  was  a  time  of  heavy  exercife, 

*  on  account  of  a  lifelefs,  lukewarm,  indif- 
'  ferent  fituation  of  mind,  which  feemed  to 
c  attend   divers   there  aflembled :     the   next 

*  day  we  attended  a  burial  at  Third-haven, 
'  on    which  occafion    a  meeting  was   held, 
'  and  he  laboured  honeftly  to  aroufe  thofe 

*  that  lived  in  the  negleft  of  making  timely 
'  preparation  for  their  laft.  awful  and  folemn 

*  change.     On  the  twenty-eighth  we  were 

*  at  Tuckahoa  meeting,  and  on   fecond  day 

*  at   the  Bay-fide,  where   were  but  few  of 
'  our  fociety;  but  feveral  others  attended, 
'  who  behaved   foberly,    and    fome   of   the 

*  younger  fort  were  reached   and   tendered 

*  by  truth's  testimony;  to  whom  he  was  led 
'  inftructively  to  {hew,   "  That  they   need 
f<  not  give   their  money  for  that  which  is 
"  not     bread,    nor    their    labour    for    that 
"  which  fatisneth   not;"    '  and  opened   to 
«  them  the  way  of  life  and  falvation,  which 
«  is  attained  through   "  the  Spirit,    or  free 
«'  gift  of  grace,  that  is  come  upon  all  men 
«'  for  juftification  :"    '  fo  that  if  they   at- 
«  tended  to  the  dictates  thereof  in  their  own 
'  hearts,  it  was  fufficient  to  instruct  them 

'  in 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     335 

in  the  way  of  godlinefs ;  but  when  people 
go  from  and  neglecl  this  inward  teacher, 
feeking  to  or  depending  on  learned  men, 
they  err. 

'  Next  day  we  had  a  religious  opportu- 
nity in  the  family  of  John  Bartlett,  and 
on  fourth  day  went  to  Tuckahoa  meeting 
again  ;  where  he  had  to  fpeak  of  the  fuf- 
ficiency  of  the  grace  of  God,  and  the  in- 
confiftency  of  people's  living  in  a  profef- 
fion  thereof  without  being  found  in  the 
faith,  or  fully  believing  in  this  principle 
as  fufficient  for  falvation.  We  next  at- 
tended the  meetings  at  Third-haven  and 
Marfhy-Creek ;  the  yearly -meeting  began 
on  feventh  day,  arid  continued  until  the 
fourth  of  the  following  week,  which,  al- 
though he  was  feeble  and  unwell,  he  at- 
tended the  feveral  fittings  thereof,  being 
nine  in  the  five  days,  and  the  laft  held 
feven  hours.  He  was  enabled  to  appear 
for  the  caufe  and  teftimony  of  truth,  both 
in  the  meetings  for  wormip  and  difcipline, 
and,  like  the  good  fcribe,  well  inftrudled 
in  the  things  of  the  kingdom,  had  to 
bring  forth  out  of  the  treafury,  things 
new  and  old,  profitable  and  inftrudtive, 
being  feafoned  with  the  love  and  virtue 
of  truth.  After  the  meeting  on  fourth 
day,  we  went  to  the  houfe  of  Jofeph  Ber- 
ry, where  next  morning  we  had  a  religious 
opportunity  in  the  family,  and  the  day 
following  a  meeting  in  Queen  Ann's  Fo- 

'  reft; 


336     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

'  reft;  from  whence  we  went  to  Jofhua 
'  Vanfant's  :  here  he  was  very  poorly,  hav- 
'  ing  taken  fome  frefli  cold.  The  next  day 
'  being  very  warm,  he  was  much  fpent 
'  with  riding,  and  faid,  as  he  had  at  feve- 
'  ral  times  before  on  this  journey,  "  that 
"  he  believed  it  would  be  his  laft,  if  he 
"  lived  to  reach  home,  which,  at  times,  he 
"  thought  fecmed  unlikely."  '  On  firft  day, 

*  the  eleventh  of  the  fixth  month,  he  had  a 
'  meeting  in  a  fchool-houfe  at  Back-Creek, 
'  among  a  people  who  behaved  with  much 
'  fobriety,    which  was   a  fatisfadtory  time, 

*  very    inftruclive    and   open    for    dodtrine, 
'  and  that  evening   reached  home,    having 

*  travelled  in  this  journey  about  two  hundred 
'  and  ninety  miles.' 


On  the  fourteenth  of  the  fixth  month, 
he  went  to  the  week-day  meeting  at  Lon- 
don-Grove, to  meet  with  a  committee  of 
our  quarterly-meeting  on  particular  bufmefs, 
and  returned  to  our  meeting  at  Nottingham 
the  next  day ;  on  the  firft  day  of  the  week 
following  was  there  alfo ;  in  the  fame  week 
he  attended  our  preparative  and  monthly- 
meetings  ;  but  a  fever  daily  encreafing  upon 
him,  he  was  afterwards  chiefly  confined  at 
home. 

On 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.     337 

tDn  the  fourth  of  the  feventh  month  he 
cxprelTed  himfelf  thus :  *  I  am  glad  I  am  at 
home;  I  have  ever  found  it  beft,  when 
my  fervice  abroad  was  over,  to  get  home 
as  quick  as  might  be ;  and  though  I  have 
felt  great  inward  poverty  and  weaknefs, 
fmce  my  laft  journey,  fo  that  I  can  nei- 
ther fee  my  beginning  nor  ending,  but 
feem  as  if  all  were  hidden,  yet  I  hope,  if 
Providence  mall  fee  meet  to  remove  me  at 
this  time,  fome  light  will  appear  again, 
and  that  it  will  be  otherwife  before  I  go. 
At  another  time  he  fpake  to  this  purpofe: 
I  have  found  myfelf  much  ftripped,  as  to 
a  'fenfe  of  good,  and  tried  with  poverty 
many  days.  I  fuppofe  I  have  been  ac- 
counted by  fome,  as  one  of  the  better  fort 
of  people,  but  have  feen  great  occaiion  to 
beware  of  a  difpofition  that  would  feek  to 
feed  upon  the  praife  or  commendations  of 
others  :  a  carnal  felfifh  fpirit  is  very  apt  to 
prefent,  and  creep  in  here,  and  I  have  feen 
it  hurt  many,  who  have  had  right  begin- 
nings; it  always  introduces  dimnefs,  and 
oppreffion,  to  the  pure,  precious,  inno- 
cent life  of  truth,  which  only  groweth  up 
into  dominion  through  deep  abaiement  of 
foul,  and  the  entire  death  of  felf.' 
At  feveral  other  times  he  fignified  to  this 
effect:  '  My  prefent  baptifm  of  affliction 

*  hath  tended  to  the  further  refinement  of 
'  my  nature,  and  to   the   bringing  me  more 

*  perfectly  into  the  image  of  my  Mailer/ 

Z  He 


338     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

He  frequently  exprefTed  his  full  fubmiffion 
to  the  Divine  will,  either  refpecting  life  or 
death ;  feveral  times  faying,  *  I  now  expe- 

*  rience  my  life  and  my  will  to  be  flain,  and 
'  I  have  no  will  left/ 

In  the  two  laft  weeks  of  his  time  it  ap- 
peared that  his  delire  and  hope,  mentioned 
in  the  fore  part  of  his  illnefs,  for  light  again 
to  appear,  were  fully  anfwered  by  the  frem 
influence  thereof;  fo  that  although  his  pain, 
was  often  great,  he  would  many  times  in  a 
day  break  forth  into  a  kind  of  melody  with 
his  voice,  without  uttering  words ;  which, 
as  he  fometimes  intimated,  was  an  involun- 
tary aipiration  of  his  foul  in  praife  to  the 
Lord,  who  had  again  been  pleafed  to  mine 
forth  in  brightnefs,  after  many  days  of  po- 
verty and  deep  baptifm,  which,  though 
painful,  had  proved  beneficial  to  him,  be- 
ing a  means  of  further  purifying  from  the 
dregs  of  nature;  faying  he  was  at  times 
afraid  to  difcover  that  melody  in  the  hearing 
of  fome  that  vifited  him,  left  they  could  not 
comprehend  his  meaning,  and  might  there- 
fore mifconftrue  it. 

On  fecond  day  morning,  the  feventeenth 
of  the  feventh  month,  being  afked  by  a  friend 
how  he  was,  he  replied,  *  I  am  here  in  the 
'  body  yet,  and  when  I  go  out  of  it,  I  hope 

*  there  is  nothing  but  peace:'  and  foon  after 
further  faid,  '  I  have  feen  that  all  the  buf- 
'  ties,  and  noifes,  that  are  now  in  the  world, 
'  will  end   in   confulion;    and   our  young 

'  men, 


> 


OF  JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    339 

'  men,  that  know  not  an  eftablimment  in 

*  the  truth  and  the  Lord's  fear,  for  a  bal- 
'  laft,  will  be  caught  in  a  trying  moment.' 
At  another  time  he  faid,  '  I  feel  nothing  but 

*  peace,  having  endeavoured  honeftly  to  dif- 
'  charge  myfelf  in  publick,  and  privately  to 
'  individuals,  as  I  apprehended  was  required; 
'  and  if  it  be  the  Lord's  will  that  I  fhould 

*  go  now,  I  mall  be  releafed  from  a  great 

*  deal  of  trouble  and  exercife,  which  I  be- 

*  lieve  friends  who  are  left  behind  will  have 

*  to  pafs  through.' 

On  the  twentieth  of  the  fame  month  he 
thus  exprefTed  himfelf :  '  I  love  friends  who 
abide  in  the  truth  as  much  as  ever  I  did, 
and  I  feel  earneft  breathings  to  the  Lord, 
that  there  may  be  fuch  raifed  up  in  the 
church  who  may  go  forth  in  humility, 
fweetnefs,  and  life,  clear  of  all  fuperfluity 
in  exprefHons  and  otherwife,  ftanding  for 
the  teftimony,  that  they  may  be  ufeful  to 
the  church  in  thefe  difficult  times/ 
About  three  days  before  his  death,  feveral 
frieads  being  in  his  room,  he  fpake  as  fol- 
lows :  '  Friends  in  the  beginning,  if  they 
had  health  and  liberty,  were  not  eafily  di- 
verted from  paying  their  tribute  of  wor- 
fliip  to  the  Almighty  on  week-days  as  well 
as  firft-days;  but  after  a  while,  when  out- 
ward fufferings  ceafed,  life  and  zeal  decay- 
ing, eafe,  and  the  fpirit  of  the  world, 
took  place  with  many;  and  thus  it  became 
cuftomary  for  one  or  two  out  of  a  family  to 
Z  2  '  attend 


40     THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS 

attend  meetings,  and  to  leave  their  children 
much 'at  home.  Parents  alfo,  if  worldly 
concerns  were  in  the  way,  could  neglect 
their  week-day  meetings  fome  times,  yet 
be  willing  to  hold  the  name,  and  plead 
excufe  becaufe  of  a  bufy  time,  or  the  like; 
but  I  believe  that  fuch  a  departure  from 
primitive  integrity  ever  did,  and  ever  will, 
occafion  a  withering  from  the  life  of  true 
religion.' 

To  a  friend  who  came  to  vilit  him  on  the 
twenty-firfr.  of  the  feventh  month,  he  faid : 
I  feel  that  which  lives  beyond  death  and 
the  grave,  which  is  now  an  inexpremble 
comfort  to  me,  after  a  time  of  deep  bap- 
tifm  that  I  have  parTed  through :  I  believe 
my  being  continued  here  is  in  the  will  of 
Providence,  and  I  am  fully  refigned/ 
His  illnefs  encreafing,  he  faid  but  little  on 
feventh  day,  the  twenty-fecond ;  in  the  af- 
ternoon he   was    very   low,    and   fpeechlefs 
about  twelve  hours :  early  on  firft  day  morn- 
ing he  recruited  a  little,  and  gave  directions 
about  his  coffin  to  a  friend  who  fat  up  with 
him,    being    a  joiner.      Continuing  rather 
eafier  the  fore  part  of  that  day,  and  appear- 
ing chearful,    he   expreffed  divers    weighty 
fentences,    like     farewell    exhortations,    to 
fome  who  came  to  fee  him.     On  fecond  day 
morning  he  fat  up  a  conliderable  time;  in 
the  afternoon  he  appeared  lively  and  fenfible, 
though  very  weak,  thus  expreffing  himfelf; 
'  J  am  much  refreflied  with  my  Matter's 

'  fweet 


OF   JOHN  CHURCHMAN.    341 

'  fweet  air;  I  feel  more  life,  more  light, 
'  more  love,  and  fweetnefs,  than  ever  be- 
'  fore/  and  often  mentioned  the  Divine 
refreshment  and  comfort  he  felt  flowing  like 
a  pure  flream  to  his  inward  man ;  faying  to 
thofe  who  were  with  him,  '  I  may  tell  you 
'  of  it,  but  you  cannot  feel  it  as  I  do/ 

In  the  evening,  a  young  perfon  coming 
into  the  room,  looking  at  her  earneftly  and 
affectionately,  he  faid,  "  Deborah  arofe  a 
"  mother  in  Ifrael/'  and  fhortly  after,  '  The 
'  fweetnefs  that  I  feel :'  then  his  difficulty 
of  breathing  encreafed,  and,  being  turned 
once  or  twice,  he  requefted  to  be  helped 
up,  and  was  placed  in  his  chair,  in  which 
he  expired  about  the  ninth  hour,  on  fecond 
day  night,  the  twenty-fourth  of  the  feventli 
month,  1775,  aged  near  feventy,  a  mi- 
nifter  about  forty-two  years.  He  was  bu- 
ried on  the  twenty-fixth,  in  friend's  grave- 
yard at  Eaft-Nottingham,  a  large  concourfe 
of  people  attending,  after  which  a  folemn 
meeting  was  held. 


THE        END. 


t  343  ] 

The  following  Memorial  of  our  beloved 
friend  Jofeph  White,  who  was  endued 
with  an  eminent  gift  in  the  miniftry,  and 
uniformly  concerned  for  the  welfare  of 
the  churches,  is  here  fubjoined  at  the  de- 
fire  of  divers  friends ;  which,  as  no  ac- 
count of  his  labours  and  viiits  in  the  fer- 
vice  of  the  gofpel,  appears  to  be  preferved 
by  himfelf,  may,  in  fome  meafure,  fupply 
that  deficiency,  and,  we  apprehend,  will 
be  an  inflrudtive  and  acceptable  appendage 
to  the  foregoing  journal  j  tending  to  revive 
and  keep  in  remembrance  his  pious  life, 
and  the  near  fellowfhip  of  his  brethren 
with  him,  and  further  animate  furvivors 
to  faithfulnefs  in  the  difcharge  of  their 
feveral  religious  duties,  in  order  that  they 
alfo  may  be  favoured  with  a  well-grounded 
hope  of  attaining  the  like  happy  end. 

A  TESTIMONY  from  t he  Falls  monthly - 
meeting  in  Bucks  Connty,  concerning  our 
friend  JOSEPH  WHITE. 

AS  the  memory'of  the  juft  is  pronounced 
blefied,  we  think  it"  expedient  to  give 
forth  a  teftimony  concerning  this  our  efteem- 
ed  friend. 

He  was  born   at   the   Falls  the  twenty- 
eighth   of    the  eleventh   month,     1712-13: 
being  young  when  his  father  died,  he  was 
brought   up  under  the  care  of  his  relations 
Z  4  and 


344 


TESTIMONY   CONCERNING 


and  friends  -,  and,  through  the  extending  of 
heavenly  regard  whllft  young,  and  attending 
to  the  teachings  of  divine  grace,  he  was  led 
and  preferved  from  many  of  the  follies  and 
extravagancies  incident  to  unthinking  youth. 
About  the  twentieth  year  of  his  age  he  ap- 
peared in  publick  teftimony  in  our  religious 
meetings,  and,  continuing  in  a  good  degree 
faithful  to  the  meafure  of  light  and  grace 
communicated,  he  grew  in  his  gift,  and  be- 
came a  lively  and  able  minifter. 

He  was  naturally  of  an  open  chearful  dif- 
pofition,  and  honefty  concerned  for  the  pro- 
motion of  piety  and  virtue,  and  for  the  fup- 
port  and  maintenance  of  good  order  in  the 
church;  for  which  fervice  he  was  eminently 
gifted,  and  truly  ferviceable  amongft  us, 
being  often  concerned  that  the  authority  of 
truth  might  be  kept  up  in  all  our  meetings 
of  difcipline,  and  that  true  judgment  might 
be  placed  upon  the  diforderly  and  irreclaim- 
able. He  was  exemplary  in  his  life  and 
converfation  -,  a  diligent  and  timely  attender 
of  our  religious  meetings,  when  health  of 
body  permitted;  and  was  often  favoured 
therein  in  publick  teftimony  and  fupplica- 
tion,  much  to  the  comfort  and  edification 
of  the  truly  humble  waiters.  And  although 
he  had  a  large  gift  in  the  miniftry,  he  many 
times  fat  meetings  in  filence,  waiting  upon 
the  Lord  -y  not  being  hafty  or  forward  in  the 
exercife  of  his  gift,  but  careful  not  to  mi- 
nifter without  the  heavenly  life  and  power 

that 


JOSEPH     WHITE.       345 

that  firft  raifed  him  up  in  the  mini/try; 
whereby  his  publick  fervice  was  greatly  to 
the  coniblation  and  refreshment  of  many. 

He  feveral  times  had  a  concern  to  vifit  the 
churches  abroad,  and,  with  the  concurrence 
of  this  meeting,  viiited  many  of  the  meet- 
ings of  friends  in  this  and  feveral  of  the 
adjacent  provinces,  and  once  through  fome 
parts  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  North- 
Carolina  :  and  having  for  fome  coniiderable 
time  been  under  a  weighty  concern  to  pay  a 
religious  vifit  to  friends  in  feveral  parts  of 
Europe,  he,  with  the  concurrence  and  unity 
of  his  friends,  took  (hipping  for  that  pur- 
pofe  in  the  year  1758,  and,  after  a  fhort 
pafTage,  landed  in  England;  and  having 
pretty  generally  vifited  friends  meetings  in 
England  and  Ireland,  and  fome  parts  of 
Wales,  he  returned  to  his  family  and  friends, 
having  been  from  home  in  truth's  fervice 
near  three  years.  And  at  his  return  from 
thefe  vifits,  produced  certificates  of  friends 
unity  and  good  fatisfadtion  with  him,  and 
his  publick  fervice  amongft  them. 

He  was  divers  times  appointed  and  en- 
gaged in  the  fervice  of  vifiting  families,  be- 
ing well  qualified  for  that  weighty  fervice. 

He  much  loved  the  company  and  conver- 
fation  of  his  friends ;  was  a  loving  and  af- 
fectionate hufband,  a  tender  parent,  and  a 
good  neighbour,  generally  beloved  by  his 
friends  and  others  that  knew  him,  being  in 

feveral 


346     TESTIMONY  CONCERNING 

feveral  refpe&s  ufeful  and  ferviceable  in  the 
neighbourhood  where  he  lived. 

He  was  attended  from  his  youth  at  times 
with  a  pain  at  his  breaft,  with  intermiffions 
of  health,  fometimes  for  years,  and  at  other 
times  but  fhort ;  but  as  he  advanced  further 
in  age,  intermiffions  of  health  grew  iliort, 
and  pain  encreafed,  which  brought  on  other 
bodily  infirmities,  which  he  bore  with  pa- 
tience and  refignation,  often  craving  he 
might  not  be  off  his  watch  when  his  pains 
were  exquiiite,  nor  his  faith  fail  in  the  time 
of  trial  j  believing  it  to  be  the  goodnefs  of 
God,  through  his  thus  dealing  with  him, 
more  and  more  to  wean  him  from  all  out-* 
ward  connections  and  nearefl  ties  of  nature, 
that,  being  as  the  pure  gold,  refined  through 
the  furnace,  he  might  with  triumph  join 
the  redeemed  that  were  gone  before,  which 
he  at  times  had  a  foretafte  and  evidence  of ; 
but  the  time  when,  as  he  himfelf  fometimes 
expreffed,  he  did  not  then  fee,  believing  it 
to  be  confident  with  Divine  wifdom  to  keep 
it  hid  from  him. 

The  latter  part  of  his  time,  for  feveral 
months,  he  flept  but  little  in  the  night  fea- 
fon,  being,  at  times,  engaged  in  reverent  in- 
tercefiions  and  divine  contemplation,  and 
appeared  to  be  waiting  for  the  folemn  mo- 
ment. 

He  lived  in  the  compafs  of  the  Falls  par- 
ticular meeting  until  a  few  years  before  his 
death,  and  then  removed  to  Makefield,  (a 

branch 


JOSEPH     WHITE.       347 

branch  of  the  fame  monthly-meeting)  and 
having  for  fome  months  felt  ftrong  defires 
(if  favoured  with  health)  to  go  to  the  Falls 
meeting,  on  a  monthly-meeting  day  he  fet 
out  to  go  there;  but  the  weather  being  cold, 
and  he  in  a  weak  ftate  of  health,  foon  found 
himfelf  unable  to  perform  the  journey,  and 
returned  home.  But  fome  time  after,  feel- 
ing his  bodily  ftrength  fomewhat  reftored, 
and  love  renewed,  he  fet  out,  in  company 
with  his  wife,  one  firft  day  morning,  and 
got  to  the  meeting,  where  he  was  favoured 
with  an  open  time  in  publick  teftimony, 
much  to  the  fatisfaction  of  thofe  prefent. 
After  the  meeting  was  over,  and  friends 
gone  out,  a  friend  being  deflrous  of  fpeak- 
ing  to  him,  not  feeing  him  out  of  doors, 
returned  into  the  houfe,  and  found  him  fit- 
ting on  a  feat,  unable  to  move  without  help: 
the  friend  affifted  him,  and  took  him  to  his 
houfe,  where  he  was  taken  care  of.  The 
fit  being  of  the  paralytick  kind,  was  much 
more  favourable  than  at  fome  other  times, 
though  it  continued  ebbing  and  flowing  for 
feveral  hours ;  in  which  time  he  expreffed 
feveral  things,  fome  of  which,  being  then 
taken  down,  are  nearly  as  follows. 

Being  afked  by  his  fon  Samuel  how  it  wa« 
with  him,  he  anfwered,  '  I  don't  know  but 
'  that  I  am  near  my  end.  My  defire  at  this 
'  time  for  thee  is,  that  thou  feek  unto  the 
*  Lord  for  amftance,  to  govern  thee  in  thy 
«  conduct  in  this  fluctuating  life;  for  I  have 

'  found 


348     TESTIMONY  CONCERNING 

'  found  him  to  be  a  fure  help  and  counfellor 
'  to   me :    and  if  thou  follow  after  him  in 

*  truth  and  fmcerity,  as  I  have  endeavoured 

*  to  do,    he  will  be  unto  thee  a  fufficient 
'  director,  a  teacher  that  cannot  be  removed 
'  into  a  corner.     I  have  not  been  anxious  to 
'  gather  a  portion  of  this  world,  nor  make 
'  to  myfelf  mammon  of  unrighteoufnefs;  for 
'  I  think  I   have  feen  a  fnare  that  has  at- 
'  tended  many  young  people  on  thefe  ac- 
'  counts.     I  have  ever  from  my  youth  had 

*  a  defire  to  be  more  in  fubftance  than  in 

*  fhew:  let  me  appear  as    I  might  in   the 

*  fight  of  men,   their  praife   I   fought  not 
'••  for;  but  I  have  fought  the  honour  of  God, 
'•  therefore  there  is  a  place  where  no  trouble 

*  mail  annoy,  prepared  for  me,  as  a  reward 
f  for  obedience.      You   that   flay  be   more 

*  humble,    and    when  trouble  awaits    you, 
'  look  not  upon   nor  truft    to   the   arm  of 

*  flefh  for  affirmance,  but  ftay  yourfelves  up- 
'  on  him  who  fuffered  for  you,  for  me,  and 
'  for  all  mankind  :  for  I  have  for  fome  time 
'  believed  and  lived   in   the   hopes  thereof, 
'  and    am    now   in   meafure   confirmed,    of 
'  more  glorious  things  yet, to  be  revealed  to 
'  the  church  of  Chrift,  and  that  further  and 

*  greater  difcoveries  will  yet  be  made,  with 
'  refpect  to  the  Chriftian  religion,  than  ever 
'  yet  has  been  fince  the  apoflafy.' 

And  after  a  Ihort  paufe,  he  broke  forth  in 
thefe  expreffions :  '  The  door  is  open,  I  fee 
'  an  innumerable  company  of  faints,  of  an- 

4  gels, 


JOSEPH     WHITE.      349 

e  gels,  and  of  the  fpirits  or  juft  men,  which 
'  I  long  to  be  unbodied  to  be  with,  but  not 
'  my  will,  but  thy  will  be  done,  O  Lord  !  I 
'  cannot  utter,  nor  my  tongue  exprefs,  what 
'  I  feel  of  that  light,  life  and  love,  that 
s  attends  me,  which  the  world  cannot  give, 

*  neither  can  it  take  away  from  me.     My 
'  fins  are  warned  away  by  the  blood  of  the 
'  Lamb,  that  was  flain  from  the  foundation 
'  of  the  world :  all  rags  and  filthinefs  are 
'  taken  away,  and  in  room  thereof  love  and 
'  good- will    for  all  mankind.     O  that  we 
'  may  become  more  united  in   the  church 
c  militant,  and  nearer  refemble  the  church 
'  triumphant !  O  that  we  might  all  make 
'  fuch  an  end  as  I  have  in  profpeft ;  for  it  is 
'  all  light,  all  life,  all  love,  and  all  peace : 
'  the  light  that  I  fee  is  more  glorious  than 
4  the  fun   in  the  firmament.     Come,  Lord 
'  Jefus  Chrift,   come  when  thou    pleafeft; 
'  thy  fervant  is  ready  and  willing :  into  thy 
'  hands  I  commit  my  fpirit ;  not  my  will, 
«  but  thy  will  be  done,  O  Lord !     Let  this 
'  mortal  body  be  committed  to  the  duft:  be 

*  with    me,    with    my   children,    and    my 
'  grandchildren ;  be  with  all  them  that  love 
'  thee,    that    love  thy  appearance.      O  the 
'  pains  that  I  feel,  that  attend  this  mortal 
'  body,  they  are  more  comely  to  me  than 
'  jewels !     I  rejoice  in  my  fighs  and  groans, 
'  for  to  me  they  are  moft  melodious  :   I  am 

*  near  to   enter  that  harmony  with  Mofes 

the  Lamb,  where  they  cry  Holy,  holy, 

'  holy; 


350     TESTIMONY  CONCERNING 

'  holy;    I  cannot  exprefs   the  joy   I  feel. 

'  My  heart  (if  it  were  poffible)  would  break 

*  for  joy.     If  any  enquire  after  me,  after 
'  my  end,  let   them  know  all  is  well  with 

*  me/ 

Many  more  weighty  expreffions  he  fpoke, 
which,  not  being  taken  down,  cannot  be 
recolle&ed. 

The  next  day,  his  pain  abating,  and  find- 
ing himfelf  fomewhat  relieved  from  his  dif- 
order,  he  was  taken  to  his  own  houfe,  where 
he  remained,  in  a  weak  ftate  of  health,  for 
fome  time,  being  unable  to  go  much  abroad. 
And  one  night,  fome  fhort  time  before  his 
death,  his  pain  had  been  fharp  the  fore  part 
of  the  night,  but  the  latter  part  it  abating, 
his  wife  lay  down  by  him,  and  fell  afleep, 
but  he,  as  ufual,  flept  not,  but,  after  fome 
time  called  to  his  wife  in  thefe  words :  '  My 

*  dear,  I   believe  I  muft  take  my  leave  of 
'  thee.     I  have  never  feen  my  end  till  now, 

*  and  now  I  fee  its  near,  and  the  holy  angels 
'  enclofe  me  around,  waiting  to  receive  me.' 
His   wife  alked  him  if  me   mould  call  up 
the  children;  he   faid,  he  did    not  fee  any 
thing  further  he  had  to  fay  to  them,  except 
to  his  fon  Jofeph,  who  being  called,  and  he 
having  exprefled  what  he  had  on  his  mind, 
was  much  fpent,  and  appeared  as  though  he 
was  near  his  delired  port;  but  after  fome 
time     he     revived,      with      thefe     words : 

*  Life  is    yet    ftrong  in  me,  and   will   not 
'  yield.'     Thus  he  continued  the  few  con- 
cluding 


JOSEPH    WHITE.       351 

eluding  days,  waiting  in  refignation  and  re- 
tirednefs  of  mind,  until  the  repeated  returns 
of  the  paralytick  complaint  redilced  his  fa- 
culties and  fenfes  fo,  that  he  knew  not  what 
was  done  for  fome  days,  and  departed  in 
much  ftillnefs,  as  in  a  fleep,  the  tenth  day 
of  the  third  month,  1777,  and  was  decently 
interred  in  friend's  burying-ground  at  the 
Fall's  meeting -houfe,  the  twelfth  of  the 
fame ;  his  body  being  attended  to  the  grave 
by  a  number  of  friends  and  neighbours. 

May  we,  under  the  confideration  of  our 
great  lofs  of  him,  and  many  other  faithful 
labourers  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  now  re- 
moved from  us,  be  excited  fo  to  follow 
their  footfteps,  that,  with  them,  we  may  be 
partakers  of  that  incorruptible  inheritance, 
which  is  referved  for  the  righteous,  when 
time  here  mall  be  no  more. 

Aged  fixty-four,  and  a  minifter  about  for- 
ty-four years. 

Signed  on  behalf  of  faid  monthly-meet- 
ing, held  by  adjournment  the  i2th  of 
the  8th  month,  1778. 

JOSEPH  GILLINGHAM,  Clerk., 

"  Bleffed  are  thofe  fervants  whom  the 
"  LORD,  when  He  cometh,  fhall  find  watch- 
"  ing."  Luke  xii.  37. 


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A  Journal  of  the  Life  of  JOHN  GRATTON,  giv- 
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how  he  came  to  the  Knowledge  of  the  Truth ;  as 
alfo  of  his  Labours,  Travels,  and  Sufferings  for 
the  fame,  2S.  Bound. 

Some  Considerations  relating  to  the  Prefent 
State  of  the  Chriftian  Religion,  in  three  Parts,  by 
ALEXANDER  ARSCOIT,  Bound)  33. 

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